RADAR

 Radio Detection And Ranging

Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance,speed and direction of objects relative to the point from where the radio waves are emitted.It is used to detect and track aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, map weather formations, and terrain.

Uses of Radar

It is used in air and terrestrial traffic control, radar astronomy, air-defence systems, anti-missile systems, marine radars to locate landmarks and other ships, aircraft anti-collision systems, ocean surveillance systems, outer space surveillance.Radar is also used to spot space debris which have the potential to break satellites.

Radio Waves

Radio waves are electromagnetic waves with a frequency between about 10 to 4 and 10 to 11 or 10 to 12 Hz used for long distance communication.

Frequency

Frequency describes the number of waves that pass a fixed place in a given amount of time. Hertz is the unit of measurement for frequency

How is Radar used in Air Traffic Control?

Radar stations like the one shown above are used in airports.The spinning antennae on the stations send radio waves and if the waves hit and deflect something.It identifies that it is an aircraft and it determines the speed of the aircraft and the distance it is from the radar station.

How radar saved lives?

RADAR was invented by British Radio Physicist Robert Alexander Watson-Watt in May 1935.It was invented for world war 2 and played a huge role in making the Allied Powers win the war.It helped shoot aircrafts from the surface of the earth with ground-to-air missiles.During the world war,the RAF had radar stations with quick response teams.Anytime a luftwaffe bomber came within 100 km of the radar it was shown on the radar and the quick response team was sent to counter the luftwaffe aircraft.This gave the RAF an upperhand in the air.

Doppler Radar

The Doppler Radar is used to produce velocity data for far away objects. It does this by bouncing a microwave signal off a desired target and analysing how the object's motion has altered the frequency of the returned signal. It uses the Doppler effect which was discovered by Christian Doppler.

Doppler Effect

It is the change in the frequency of the wave after it hits an object which changes its frequency

The Doppler Radar is used for meteorology. Meteorologists can predict the Weather by looking at the number of Hertz the frequency has changed by.

Important Parts of RADAR

Important parts of Radar include a transmitter, a receiver, an antenna, and signal processing equipment.

Latest Uses of RADAR

Stealth Detection-Advanced radar systems with improved sensitivity and signal processing capabilities help identify or detect stealth flights flying at a low range.

They are also used in unmanned aerial vehicles and drones.