A geostationary orbit around the Earth is located at approximately what height above the equator?

Introduction / Context:
A geostationary orbit is widely used for communication, weather, and broadcasting satellites. It is a special circular orbit in which a satellite appears to remain fixed over one point on the Earths equator. Many exam questions ask about the approximate height of this orbit because it is a standard reference value in space science. The correct figure is about 36,000 kilometers above the Earths surface, which gives the satellite the same angular velocity as the Earths rotation.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The term in focus is geostationary orbit.
• We assume a circular orbit directly above the equator.
• Options provide various heights in kilometers, from a few kilometers to several hundred thousand kilometers.
• The student is expected to know or approximate the standard height value.

Concept / Approach:
A geostationary orbit is one in which the orbital period of the satellite equals the Earths rotation period, approximately 24 hours. For this condition to hold, the satellite must orbit at a specific distance from the Earths center, which translates to roughly 35,786 kilometers above the Earths surface. For exam purposes, this value is usually rounded to about 36,000 kilometers. Lower orbits have shorter periods and thus cannot remain fixed above one point. Much higher orbits would have longer periods and also would not stay geostationary.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that geostationary satellites orbit above the equator and appear fixed relative to the Earths surface. Step 2: Remember the approximate height commonly given for this orbit, about 36,000 kilometers. Step 3: Examine the options and identify 36,000 km as the value closest to the standard height. Step 4: Note that values like 6 km or 1000 km are far too low and correspond to regions within the atmosphere or low Earth orbit, not geostationary orbit. Step 5: Select 36,000 km as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by recalling the numerical figure used in many physics or geography textbooks: they often state that communication satellites are placed at an altitude of about 35,786 kilometers, rounded to 36,000 kilometers. In comparison, low Earth orbit satellites such as those used for imaging or the International Space Station are typically at altitudes of a few hundred kilometers, which is much lower. This sharp difference reinforces that geostationary orbit lies around 36,000 kilometers above the equator.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
6 km: This height is still within the lower atmosphere and is far below any satellite orbit; airplanes fly at such altitudes, not satellites.
1000 km: This corresponds to low Earth orbit, where satellites move rapidly relative to the ground and cannot stay fixed over one point.
3600 km: This is a medium Earth orbit, but still too low for the 24 hour orbital period needed for geostationary conditions.
3,60,000 km: This is close to the average distance between the Earth and the Moon and is far beyond geostationary orbit.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is misreading the number of zeros and confusing 3600 km with 36,000 km or even 3,60,000 km. Another pitfall is assuming that any high orbit could be geostationary, without considering the precise requirement of matching the Earths rotation period. To avoid mistakes, memorize the rounded figure of 36,000 kilometers and remember that it is much higher than orbits used for Earth observation but much lower than the Earth Moon distance. This helps fix the correct value in your mind for quick recall.

Final Answer:
A geostationary orbit is located at an altitude of approximately 36,000 km above the Earths equator.