Problem geostationary satellite

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fluidistic
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Homework Statement


At what height (from the ground of the Earth) must be placed a geostationary satellite?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

I'm not sure I understand well the question. I guess they are asking for a satellite in such a position that he would not deviate from the point over the ground it is situated. Well, I believe that the height doesn't matter at all and what matters is the velocity you put the satellite in orbit that matters. But the answer of the question is [tex]3.58 \cdot 10^5 \text{km}[/tex]. I have no idea of how to get the solution. Do you have an idea?
 
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They mean that the orbital period is 1 day, so that the satellite is always directly over the same place on Earth.

Also, assume a circular orbit. What equations do you know that apply to:
1. gravity
2. circular motion
 
They mean that the orbital period is 1 day, so that the satellite is always directly over the same place on Earth.

Also, assume a circular orbit. What equations do you know that apply to:
1. gravity
2. circular motion
Hmm... I guess they want me to use [tex]F_c=m_ca_c=m_c\frac{v^2}{r}[/tex]. Also [tex]F_c=\frac{Gm_cM_E}{r^2}[/tex] which led me to conclude that [tex]r=\frac{GM_E}{v^2}[/tex]. But the velocity is unknown so I'm stuck. At last I could calculate it but only in function of the altitude (using the formula [tex]v=\omega r[/tex]) which is precisely what I'm looking for...
 
fluidistic said:
Hmm... I guess they want me to use [tex]F_c=m_ca_c=m_c\frac{v^2}{r}[/tex]. Also [tex]F_c=\frac{Gm_cM_E}{r^2}[/tex] which led me to conclude that [tex]r=\frac{GM_E}{v^2}[/tex]. But the velocity is unknown so I'm stuck. At last I could calculate it but only in function of the altitude (using the formula [tex]v=\omega r[/tex]) which is precisely what I'm looking for...

What is [itex]\omega[/itex] for this satellite?
 
fluidistic said:
[tex]r=\frac{GM_E}{v^2}[/tex]. But the velocity is unknown so I'm stuck. At last I could calculate it but only in function
of the altitude (using the formula [itex]v=\omega r[/itex]) which is precisely what I'm looking for...

You're on the right track. What happens if you substitute [itex]v=\omega r[/itex] into the previous equation here?
 
Oh... Thanks to both! I didn't think about replacing [tex]v[/tex] by [tex]\omega r[/tex]!