What is the primary benefit of placing a satellite in a low earth orbit rather than a higher earth orbit?
- Longer lifespan
- Less atmospheric drag
- Faster data transmission
- Cover larger areas on Earth
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What is the primary benefit of placing a satellite in a low earth orbit rather than a higher earth orbit?
\( C \)
→ Low earth orbit (LEO) satellites’ primary benefit is faster data transmission (low communication latency).
→ Another major benefit of LEO satellites is accessibility for servicing, although this was not given as an option.
\(\Rightarrow C \)
Outline how GPS satellites determine a position on the planet. (2 marks) --- 4 WORK AREA LINES (style=lined) --- → Position is determined when a GPS satellites triangulate signals. → Triangulation depends on the accurate measurement of the time differences between signals traveling from satellites to GPS receivers. → Position is determined when a GPS satellites triangulate signals. → Triangulation depends on the accurate measurement of the time differences between signals traveling from satellites to GPS receivers.
Which type of satellite is commonly used to broadcast TV signals?
`D`
`=>D`
Four students (A, B, C, D) completed a table regarding the orbit of a GPS satellite.
Which student is correct?
`C`
By Elimination:
→ GPS satellites need to cover most of earths surface, not just the equator, therefore not `A` or `D`.
→ GPS satellites are in medium earth orbit and therefore are not geostationary (do not match earths rotation), so not `A` or `B`.
`=>C`
A geostationary satellite is positioned above the equator.
How many times does the satellite go around Earth's axis in a 24-hour period?
`B`
→ Geostationary satellites orbit at a fixed spot above earths surface.
→ Therefore, a satellite above the equator takes the same time to rotate 360° around the earth’s axis as it takes the earth to do the same.
`=>B`
Describe the basic principles of low orbit satellite telecommunication systems. (3 marks)
--- 9 WORK AREA LINES (style=lined) ---
Successful answers would cover one of the following:
Low orbit Satellites
→ Low orbit satellites orbit the earth at altitudes below 2000 km.
→ Low orbit telecommunication systems have many satellites that pass overhead as these satellites are not geostationary and move in and out of range of the handset.
→ These satellites take around 90 minutes to orbit earth and are only in range for 5 minutes maximum.
→ When one satellite is about to disappear from the reception range, another comes into range and takes over communication.
Satellite telephones
→ Satellite telephones broadcast their individual ID numbers to satellites to identify which are in range.
→ Once a satellite receives the signal it is passed onto a base station, then its destination.
→ The phone signal is passed between satellites until one in contact with the base station is in range.
→ The phone signal is modulated using phase shift keying due to long transmission distances.
Successful answers would cover one of the following:
Low orbit Satellites
→ Low orbit satellites orbit the earth at altitudes below 2000 km.
→ Low orbit telecommunication systems have many satellites that pass overhead as these satellites are not geostationary and move in and out of range of the handset.
→ These satellites take around 90 minutes to orbit earth and are only in range for 5 minutes maximum.
→ When one satellite is about to disappear from the reception range, another comes into range and takes over communication.
Satellite telephones
→ Satellite telephones broadcast their individual ID numbers to satellites to identify which are in range.
→ Once a satellite receives the signal it is passed onto a base station, then its destination.
→ The phone signal is passed between satellites until one in contact with the base station is in range.
→ The phone signal is modulated using phase shift keying due to long transmission distances.