A GPS satellite develops a fault whereby it moves into an orbit 19 500 km above the Earth’s surface and also emits a weak signal whose power is only 23 W. What will be the power per square metre of the signal received on the Earth’s surface? Choose the nearest value from the list below. (W/m2 represents ‘watts per square metre’.)
Select one:
2 x 10−5 W/m2
4 x 10−4 W/m2
4 x 10−16 W/m2
2 x 10−15 W/m2
5 x 10−17 W/m2
5 x 10−8 W/m2
5 x 10−15 W/m2
I've read over and over how to try and figure this question out and I just don't understand it. Can anybody please help me / explain this to me please?
Go online to this link and read about the attenuation of the electromagnetic signals from space or other sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-space_path_loss
I = W/d^2 =23/19,500^2 =~6 x 10^-8 - That is the closest I get !!.
+2440 Solution:
This post has an explanation of the physics by Sir Alan and an example by Heureka.
Here is a reproduction of Heureka’s math, using the data from this question.
\(\begin{array}{rcl} I &=& \frac{P}{4\cdot \pi\cdot r^2} \qquad P = 23\ \text{watt} \qquad r = 19\ 500\ 000\ m\\ I &=& \frac{23}{4\cdot \pi\cdot 19500000^2} \\ \\ I &=& 4.8\cdot10^{-15}\ \frac{W}{m^2}\\ \end{array}\)
Closest answer from list: 5 x 10−15 W/m2
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