Question

Polar satellites:
A. Are high altitude satellite
B. Are widely used for telecommunication
C. Are used for environmental studies
D. Go around the earth in an East-West direction
E. Have a time-period of rotation of $24$ hours.

Answer 1

Hint: Polar satellite is a satellite that orbits at a right angle or in the perpendicular direction to the equator or as the name suggests the polar satellite always orbits around the north and the south poles.

Complete step by step answer:
- Polar satellites always orbit around the poles and this orbit between the poles is less elliptical. This orbit always remains the same as the Earth rotates inside the orbit. We can also say that the polar satellites always orbit in a path of Earth’s meridian lines closely. With each revolution, the satellite passes over $20$ to $30$ degrees of the north and south poles.
- Polar satellites revolve around the Earth at a low altitude at a distance of $200km$ to $300km$ from the surface of the Earth. It takes $24\,hours$ to revolve around the entire Earth.
- As the polar satellite revolves nearly the earth so it will take photographs of Earth with much resolution. This ability of the polar satellite is useful to provide detailed information on storms and cloud systems, crops, and also the mapping of earth. Therefore, this satellite provides the data with much accuracy.
Therefore, polar satellites are used for environmental studies.

So, the correct answer is “Option C”.

Note:
Polar satellites cannot be used to build communication because for communication they require a large number of satellites so that they can connect and every satellite provides a data path to the target network on the ground. Today, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) are launching up to $100$ nanosatellites at one time, using one launch vehicle.