How does radar technology work?

Radar technology operates by emitting radio waves and measuring the time it takes for those waves to bounce back after striking an object. When a radar system sends out these radio waves into the environment, they travel until they encounter an object, such as an aircraft, a vehicle, or terrain. Upon hitting that object, the waves are reflected back to the radar system, which then calculates the distance based on the time delay between the transmission and the reception of the waves.

This method provides critical information about the object's location, speed, and direction relative to the radar source. The ability to detect such details is essential in various applications, including air traffic control, weather monitoring, military surveillance, and navigation systems. By utilizing electromagnetic waves in the radio frequency spectrum, radar can operate effectively regardless of visibility conditions, making it a versatile and valuable sensing technology.