Question:
A satellite is to be placed in equatorial geostationary orbit around the earth for communication
(a) calculate height of such a satellite
(b) find out the minimum number of satellites that are needed to cover entire earth so that at least one satellites is visible from any point on the equator
Solution:
(a) Mass of the earth, M = 6 1024 kg
Radius of the earth, R = 6.4 103 m
Time period = 24 36 102 s
G = 6.67 10-11 N.m2/kg2
Orbital radius = R + h
Using orbital velocity, we can calculate h = 35,940 km
(b) The no.of satellites that are needed to cover the entire earth so that at least one satellite is visible from any point of the equator is 3.