Where Am I: Navigation and Satellites
Students learn how navigation satellites and global positioning systems help determine one's location.Copyright 2005 Mike Meares, U.S. Air Force, Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2_SOPS_space_systems_operator_040205-F-0000C-001.jpg
How do we know where we are? What happens if you are completely lost in the middle of nowhere? Does technology provide tools for people who are lost during their travels? A person cannot usually determine an accurate position just by looking out a window in the middle of the ocean or vast area of land, particularly if it has not been charted before. In this lesson, students explore the concept of triangulation that is used in navigation satellites and global positioning systems designed by engineers. Also, students learn how these technologies can help people determine their positions or the location of someone else.
Satellites have been in existence for years for various purposes, including scientific research, weather, communications, navigation and Earth observation. Engineers design these satellites, get them into orbit and analyze the information relayed by them. Satellites for navigation purposes were developed in the late 1950s as a direct result of maritime ships needing to know exactly where they were at any given moment. As people explore more and more remote regions and as communication needs for those living in more distant locations increase, navigation and pinpointing exact locations becomes an even more important challenge for engineers.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Explain how triangulation is used to find a location.
- Define global positioning system (GPS) and explain why it is useful.
- List several different ways engineers help locate people on Earth.