Geostationary orbit
What Geostationary orbit means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Geostationary orbit
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Reference: OCR
A circular orbit around Earth's equator with a period of one sidereal day, moving west to east at a specific altitude above Earth's surface.
A special case that is equatorial, circular and in the same sense as Earth's rotation, so the satellite appears fixed above one point.
Has T = 24 hours, lies in the equatorial plane, and moves west to east so the satellite appears fixed above one point.
An orbit directly above the equator with a period of exactly 24 hours, orbiting in the same direction as Earth's rotation.
Topics that use Geostationary orbit
- Orbits of planets and satellites (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
- Planetary motion (OCR A-Level)
- Point and spherical masses (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Escape velocity
- Circular orbital motion
- Critical damping
- Direction of gravitational force
- Equal areas in equal times
- Field
- Field strength and line spacing
- Geosynchronous orbit
Using Geostationary orbit in the exam
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