Satellites and Communication

Satellites and Communication

Introduction
In these present times, almost everyone has become familiar with the use of phones, computers, among other devices to carry out communication. Do you ever wonder how text messages, images and audio clips are transferred from one place to another? In addition, imagine how meteorologists and telecommunication companies quickly generate information about weather forecasts and location of an object on earth. What do you think enables all these systems to operate? In this chapter, you will be able to explain what artificial satellites are and how these are applied in space exploration and other fields.
8.1: Artificial Satellites
Our life today is highly dependent on the use of artificial satellites. In this case, many countries across the world have satellites in their atmospheres for a number of uses as you will explore in activity 8.1.

Understanding artificial satellites
Activity 8.1
Key question: What do you understand by artificial satellite?
What you need: ICT resource, relevant physics text book, notebooks
Initial question: What is a satellite?
What to do (In groups):

1. Using any available ICT resource, watch a video clip about satellites.
2. Use charts or a presentation software to share your findings with others.
   Conclusion and Application
   3.Which country invented a satellite?
   4.What do you understand by an artificial satellite?
   5.Where are artificial satellites located?
   6.How many artificial satellites orbit the earth?
   7.Identify and name some of the countries with functioning artificial satellites.
   8.How are satellites applied in each of the following fields:
   a) Agriculture
   b) Transport
   c) Trade
   9.Look around your environment to identify other aspects where humans make use of satellites.

B. 1.1 Types oF Artificial Satellites
You have seen that many countries have satellites in their atmosphere. Artificial satellites have shaped different aspects of human nature and life.
This basically implies that there exists a variety of these kinds of satellites classified depending on a number of factors as you will explore in activity 8.2.
Activity 8.2 Understanding the types of artificial satellites
Key question: Explain the various types of artificial satellites.

What you need: ICT resource, physics text book, note books, pens or any other writing material.
Initial question: What are artificial satelites?
What to do (in groups):

1. Figure 8.1 shows some of the types of artificial satellites. Study them nd carrv out the tasks which follow:

1. Using an internet resource or a physics text book, make research about each type of satellites shown in Figure 8.1.
2. Share your findings with others in class through a discussion.
   Conclusion and Application
3. Identify and explain where each of the satellites is applied.
4. Suggest other types of artificial satellites and the fields where each is applied.
5. Explain how satellites are classified.
   8.2: Satellite Orbits
   In the previous activities, you probably discovered that not all satellites do exist in the same region. By doing activity 8.3, you will explore the various regions where satellites stay.
   Activity 8.3 Investigating the types of satellite orbits
   Key question: Explain the different kinds of satellite orbits.
   What you need: ICT resource, physics text book, note books, pen and any other writing material.
   Initial question: What is a satelite orbit?
   What to do (in groups)
   Figure 8.2 shows the different kinds of satellite orbits. Study the diagram to carry out the tasks below:

1. Using an ICT resource or a physics text book, research about each of the
   satellite orbits shown in Figure 8.2.
2. Share your findings with others for further discovery.
   Conclusion and Application
   3.What do you understand by the term satellite orbit?
   4.Identify and note down the location of each satellite orbit in terms of altitude.
   5.Explain why satellites continuously stay in their orbits without falling away.
   6.Discuss and state the orbit for the different types of satellites.
   7.Organise your work in a suitable table.

8.3: Global Positioning Systems (G.P.S)
What do you know about the Global Positioning System? Have you ever tried using a Google map on your phone? How useful is it?
In addition, how do long distance drivers or even yourself try to figure out which route to take most especially when direction to the required destination is not specified.

Activity 8.4 Understanding the global positioning system
Key question: Describe the working of a Global Positioning System
What you need: ICT resource, physics text book, note book, pen and any
other writing material.
Initial question: state any two (2) uses of GPS?
What to do (In groups):

1. Using an ICT resource or a physics text book, carry out research about
   the Global Positioning system.
2. Study Figure 8.3 to identify and name the various components of GPS.

3. State the importance of each component identified above.
4. Discuss and write down other components of a Global Positioning System. Hence state their importance.
5. Organise a power point presentation and share your work with others.
   Conclusion and Application)
6. Discuss and suggest a suitable definition of a GPS.
7. Describe the working pin of a Global Positioning System.
8. Explain how each of the following makes use ofa Global Positioning System:
   a) Transporting cargo b) Financial institutions c) Security agencies

8.4: Space Exploration
Earth is the man’s basic home. Everyone on earth would wish to live in an environment whose changes are well known. Consider the fact that our life on earth is determined by a number of natural and artificial processes. What matters in this case is to clearly understand how these changes occur. In this section, you will understand and appreciate the importance of space exploration.

8.4. I: Hubble Space Telescope
Telescopes have been tools of astronomical research and sophisticated devices to measure a number of properties of celestial objects such as stars, galaxies, and planets among others.
However, the invention of Hubble space telescope in space has greatly facilitated space exploration as you will learn in activity 8.5.

Activity 8.5 Exploring the space beyond us
Key question: Explain the relevance of Hubble space telescope in space exploration.
What you need: ICT resource, text book, note books, pen or any other writing material.
Initial question: What is the use of a telescope?
What to do (in groups)

1. The picture in Figure 8.4 represents a Hubble space telescope. You are required to research about the Hubble space telescope.

2. Use a presentation software to share your findings with other members.
   Conclusion and Application
3. What do you understand by space exploration?
4. Where is the Hubble space telescope located?
5. Explain how the Hubble space telescope has facilitated space exploration.
6. Compare the idea of space exploration in these current times to the old times of ancient Greek philosophers.
   Note: A telescope collects light from celestial objects from which a lot of information to be used in astronomy is deduced. Currently, about 570, 000 images have been captured by this telescope.
   8.4.2: The International Space Station (ISS)
   The international space station is the largest structure that humans have ever put in space. In fact it is so large that it was not launched as a whole but rather in pieces and then constructed in an orbit as shown in the Figure 8.5.
   Activity 8.6 1 Exploring the International space station
   Key question: Explain the relevance of the international space station in space exploration.
   What you need: ICT resource, text books, pen or any other writing material

Initial question: What is space exploration?
What to do (In groups):

1. Figure 8.5 shows an international space station. Using any available internet resource or a text book, research about the International Space Station.

2. Discuss your findings with other colleagues for further discoveries.
   Conclusion and Application
   3.How far is the international space station from the earth’s surface?
   4.Which Countries contributed to the construction of the ISS?
   5.Justify the fact that the international space station is regarded as a habitable state.
   6.How long does it take for the international space station to describe one orbit?
   7.What can you say about the international space station with regards to space exploration?

Chapter 8 Summary
In this chapter you have learnt about;
What artificial satellites are
The various types of artificial satellites
The orbits in which satellites stay while orbiting other bodies.
Global positioning system
Hubble space and the international space station