GPS systems work by using signals from satellites to figure out exactly where you are on Earth.
Imagine you have a super clever friend who is up in space. This friend sends you messages that tell you how far away they are. You get these messages from several friends at the same time, and by comparing the distances, you can find out your exact spot on Earth, like figuring out where you are in a big playground just by knowing how far you are from different corners.
How the GPS knows where you are
Each satellite sends out a signal that travels through space to your phone or car. The signal has a special time stamp, and when it reaches you, your device uses that time to calculate how long the signal took, which tells it how far away the satellite is.
You get messages from at least four satellites, and by using those distances, your GPS can pinpoint where you are in 3D space, like a magic map that shows exactly where you are on Earth!
Examples
- A car uses signals from three satellites to know where it is on the road.
- A GPS watch tells you how far you ran using satellite signals.
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See also
- How do GPS devices pinpoint our exact location on Earth?
- How do GPS satellites pinpoint your exact location on Earth?
- How do GPS systems pinpoint your exact location?
- How does GPS accurately pinpoint locations around the world?
- How do maps know where you are using special signals from the sky?