How do GPS devices work?

GPS, or Global Positioning System, is a navigation system that relies on a network of satellites to determine the location, speed, and direction of a GPS device on Earth. GPS devices work by receiving signals from these satellites and using trilateration to calculate the device's position.

Each GPS satellite transmits signals that contain information about the satellite's location and the time the signal was transmitted. A GPS device receives signals from multiple satellites and uses this information to calculate the distance between the device and each satellite. By using trilateration, the GPS device can determine its location based on the intersection of these distances.

In addition to location, GPS devices can also calculate speed and direction by tracking changes in the device's location over time. GPS technology is used in a wide range of applications, from navigation systems in cars and airplanes to location tracking in smartphones and fitness trackers.