Q27 of 38 Page 61

What is the angle between the equatorial plane and the orbital plane of

(a) Polar satellite?


(b) Geostationary satellite?


The orbital plane of a satellite is the plane in which it revolves around the earth. The equatorial plane of earth is the plane which contains the equator.


(a) For a polar satellite, the satellite revolves from north to south and therefore its orbital plane is at 90° to the equatorial plane


(b) For a geostationary satellite whose position with respect to a place on earth is constant i.e. it revolves in the direction of the rotation of earth, the orbital plane is at 0° to the equatorial plane.


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