The geostationary satellite completes its one revolution in ________.

CONCEPT:

• Geostationary satellite: This is an earth-orbiting satellite that is placed at a fixed altitude directly over the equator.
  • It revolves west to east that is the same direction the earth rotates.
  • It takes 24 hours to complete one revolution of the earth by satellite, that is the same time as the earth takes to rotate once on its axis.
  • This satellite appears nearly stationary in the sky when seen from the ground. That's why the name geostationary.

EXPLANATION:

• Since geostationary satellite takes the same time to move around the earth as the earth takes to rotate on its axis.
• So, geostationary satellite completes one complete revolution in 24 hr around the earth.
• Hence the correct answer is option 2.

Important Points

• Another satellite is a geosynchronous satellite.
• The main difference between geosynchronous and geostationary satellites is that While the geostationary orbit lies on the same plane as the equator, the geosynchronous satellites have a different inclination.
• Both Complete one orbit in 24 hr.