Radio waves are used in radar systems to detect and track objects by sending out radio signals and analyzing the echoes that bounce back.
Here’s how it works:
- Transmission: A radar system emits a burst of radio waves in a specific direction using an antenna.
- Propagation: These waves travel through the air until they hit an object such as an aircraft, ship, or car.
- Reflection: When the radio waves strike the object, some of the energy is reflected back toward the radar system.
- Reception: The radar antenna receives the reflected waves, called echoes.
- Analysis: The system measures the time delay between sending and receiving the signal to calculate the distance to the object. It can also determine the object’s speed by analyzing changes in the frequency of the returned signal (Doppler effect).
Radar systems use radio waves because they can travel long distances, penetrate clouds, and work in darkness or bad weather. They are widely used in aviation, weather forecasting, military surveillance, and traffic control.