Question

What is GPS and how does it work?

Answer 1

Hint:Nowadays we are very much eager in knowing what is the status of the food order that we have just ordered and in such anxiousness we constantly track it on the food delivery app and we get to know that it had left the food outlet and is on the main road which is just few kilometers away from our home. This is possible only because of the use of technology known as Global positioning system called GPS.

Complete answer:
GPS is the result of satellite navigation. The satellites which are used for tracking and positioning are placed in medium earth orbits. The GPS technology was developed by the United States of America and is used worldwide. The network of 31 satellites provides the channel to locate any object on the surface of the earth which transmits radio signals. We all know our Smartphones have GPS and we are able to track our location because of radio signals which are transmitted by our mobiles.

Tracking is done by the satellites, emits signals to receivers that determine their location by computing the difference between the time that a signal is sent and the time it is received. These satellites are backed with atomic clocks that provide extremely accurate time. It is possible to compute a three-dimensional position by using GPS.

Note:GPS system is owned by the USA but offered it's free use to the international community. Russia has also developed its own positioning system called GLONASS. Both the systems are widely used by the people all over the world. But the boon comes with its own curse, and this GPS is used by the governments to track its citizens and this amounts to violation of rights. In India Privacy is a fundamental right.