How does the Global Positioning System work relating to waves?

Answer 1

The 24 (or so, or is it 26, anyway...) GPS satellites orbit the earth in such a manner that at any given time a GPS receiver will receive a signal from at least two of them. By means of triangulation using distance measurements gained from radio wave emissions [measure the time it takes for the transmission traveling at light speed to get from receiver to satellite and back], the GPS user can determine their position on the planet. Military GPS are much more accurate than civilian versions. Also, the timing involved has to take into account Einstein's special theory of relativity since time dilation occurs due to motion and distance from a gravity well. In other words, a clock in the receiver will actually measure a second differently than the clock in one of the satellites. So, computers onboard both compensate and perform the necessary calculations to give the GPS user the right coordinates.

Answer 2

First please take a look at the following link.

In the most basic manor the gps receives a message from the satellite with what amounts to a time stamp. But the gps can determine how far the satellite is from it by knowing the wavelength of the message, or how fast it can travel. When the gps talks to more satellites it gets more messages and that allows it to more firmly position it. It needs to talk to at least 3 I believe to start. But the more it does talk to the more precise the location can be.

below is copied directly from wikipedia gps
Receivers

GPS receivers calculate their current position (latitude, longitude, elevation), and the precise time, using the process of trilateration. This involves measuring the distance to at least four satellites by comparing the satellites' coded time signal (PRN Code) transmissions. The receiver calculates the orbit of each satellite based on information encoded in their radio signals, and measures the distance to each satellite, called a pseudorange, based on the time delay from when the satellite signals were sent until they were received.

Answer 3

A GPS tracking system uses GPS to determine the location of a vehicle, person, or pet and to record the position at regular intervals in order to create a track file or log of activities. The recorded data can be stored within the tracking unit, or it may be transmitted to a central location, or internet-connected computer, using a cellular modem, 2-way radio, or satellite. This allows the data to be reported in real-time, using either web browser based tools or customized software.

Answer 4

radio waves are sent from sattelites to a GPS unit and the unit uses trigonometry to find reolation to known positions of sattelites and thus the position of the unit. Its all radio waves.