Question

Out of the following, the only correct statement about satellites is

• A. A satellite cannot move in a stable orbit in a plane passing through the earth's center
• B. Geostationary satellites are launched in the equatorial plane
• C. We can use just one geostationary satellite for global communication around the globe
• D. The speed of satellite increases with an increase in the radius of its orbit

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Orbital speed, $v_0=\sqrt{\frac{GM}{r}}$ ; so speed of satellite decreases with the increase in the radius of its orbit. We need more than one satellite for global communication. For stable orbit, the plane of the satellite must through the center of earth. So, only (Geostationary satellites are launched in the equatorial plane) is correct.