Geostationary Satellite
Tune altitude until T = 24h — satellite locks above the same point on Earth.
Key Notes
A satellite in circular equatorial orbit with period T = 24 h appears stationary above one point on Earth.
Required altitude ≈ 35,786 km above Earth's surface (radius from center ≈ 42,164 km).
Used for telecommunications, weather imaging, broadcast TV.
Formulas
Orbit radius
From T = 2π√(r³/GM).
Orbital speed
≈ 3.07 km/s for geostationary.
Important Points
Must be in equatorial plane; otherwise it traces a figure-8 (geosynchronous but not stationary).
Three geostationary satellites cover almost the entire planet (excluding polar regions).
Geostationary Satellite notes from sciphylab (also known as SciPhy, SciPhy Lab, SciPhy Labs, Physics Lab). Class 11 physics revision for JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, NEET UG, AP Physics 1/2/C, SAT, and CUET-UG.