Which of the following statements describes the path of polar orbiting satellites?
A)They orient to an area west of the previous orbit on each orbit.
B)They follow a line of constant latitude around the earth.
C)They remain above a fixed point over the north or south pole.
D)They pass directly over the same place on each successive orbit.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Polar orbiting satellites move in a way that, due to the Earth's rotation, they pass over an area slightly west of their previous path with each orbit. This is because as the satellite orbits from pole to pole, the Earth rotates eastward beneath it, making the satellite appear to shift westward relative to the ground.

Which of the Following Statements Describes the Path of Polar