Class 11 Physics simulations · Gravitation

Geostationary orbit

Pick an orbital period and find the radius where a satellite keeps pace with the turning Earth.

Open the simulation

What to notice

At T = 1 sidereal day (23.93 h) the satellite stays above the same point on the equator.

Key relation

r = (GMT² / 4π²)^(1/3)

Try this

Set T = 12 h (GPS-like). How does the radius compare?

What you can change

• Orbital period: 2 to 48 h
• Planet mass: 0.2 to 5 × Earth

More in Gravitation

• Falling through a tunnel in the Earth
• Escape from a planet
• Satellite orbit
• Gravity above and below Earth
• Kepler’s elliptical orbit
• Energy of a circular orbit

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