Lecture 3, Act 4 Geostationary Orbit

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Lecture 3, Act 4Geostationary Orbit

• A satellite in geostationary orbit is always
  directly above the same spot on the earths
  equator (most communication satellites are of
  this type).
• Compare the centripetal acceleration of such a
  satellite as to the centripetal acceleration a
  person on the surface of the earth ap.
• A) as gt ap
• B) as ap
• C) as lt ap

a w2R
Same forboth
bigger for satellite
There are lots of these satellites
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But, but, but
Doesnt gravity, and therefore the centripetal
acceleration get weaker as you get farther from
the center of the earth??
Yes, the force of gravity gets weaker out at the
satellites position. But the catch is, for a
person on the surface of the earth, the
centripetal acceleration is determined by the
earths rotation, not gravity.
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What if apg?
T 24 hrs at an altitude of 22,000 miles above
the earths surface. We will calculate this in a
later lecture