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| Question 882942:  When a satellite is h kilometres above Earth, the time, t in minutes, to complete one orbit is given by the formula:
 t= (√(6370+h) power of 3)/6024
 A satellite is placed in geosynchronous orbit about Earth. What must its altitude be?
 *Geosynchronous orbit: orbit around Earth matches the rotation of Earth
 The answer at the back of the textbook says that it's 35 800km
 I get the basic of the question but I just can't get the calculation right please help! Thank you~
 Answer by stanbon(75887)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! When a satellite is h kilometres above Earth, the time, t in minutes, to complete one orbit is given by the formula: t= (√(6370+h) power of 3)/6024
 A satellite is placed in geosynchronous orbit about Earth. What must its altitude be?
 *Geosynchronous orbit: orbit around Earth matches the rotation of Earth
 The answer at the back of the textbook says that it's 35 800km
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 The satillite would have to complete its orbit in 24 hr = 24*60 = 1440 minutes
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 Using your formula, let t = 1440  and solve for "h":
 1440 = (sqrt(6370+h)^3)/6024
 8674560 = (6370+h)^(3/2)
 Raise both side to the (2/3) power to get
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 6370+h = 42218
 h = 35848
 When rounded you get h = 35800 km
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 Cheers,
 Stan H.
 
 
 
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