This work aims at describe historically and didactically the physical concepts on the technology employed in the Global Positioning System (GPS). The existing connections between the GPS and the early physical findings, like the Theory of Relativity and the Quantum Mechanics, and the inherent inaccuracies, are described and numerically exemplified. In the end, a practice task is proposed in order to improve understanding and familiarity with the system. From the performance of the activity made with undergraduate students of physics, some observations are made in order to guide its execution.
space technology; positioning; theory of relativity; quantum mechanics; physics education
