Satellite phones transmit their signal via satellite, 36,000 km above the ground.

Satellite phones transmit their signal via satellite, 36,000 km above the ground. What is the minimum signal latency when using these phones?

Given:

H = 36000 kilometers – the height above the Earth’s surface on which the satellite is located;

c = 300,000 kilometers per second – the speed of light.

It is required to find t (seconds) – the minimum delay when transmitting a signal from a satellite phone.

Let’s say two satellite phones are communicating on the ground. Then, the signal received from one phone first goes to the satellite, and then from the satellite gets to the second satellite phone, that is, the signal will travel a distance equal to:

S = 2 * H.

Then the minimum delay will be equal to:

t = S / c = 2 * H / c = 2 * 36000/300000 = 2 * 36/300 = 72/300 = 0.24 seconds.

Answer: The minimum latency when using satellite phones is 0.24 seconds.