Which of the following best explains why a geostationary satellite must orbit…
PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences
Problem
Which of the following best explains why a geostationary satellite must orbit directly above Earth’s equator?
(a) Earth’s gravitational pull is greatest at the equator, so only there can the satellite remain bound without drifting.
(b) Because the Coriolis force is zero at the equator, the satellite experiences no sideways deflection and therefore stays above the same longitude.
(c) Only an equatorial orbit keeps the satellite’s orbital plane parallel to Earth’s equatorial plane, allowing it to stay above the same surface point.
(d) The equator spins fastest, supplying exactly the centrifugal force needed to balance gravity and keep the satellite fixed over one spot.