Science

Construction of radars

How are radars made?

Anup-Karki Mon 13/10/08 12:38

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ACB312
Mon 13/10/08
21:40

Primary radar works by transmitting a pulse or series of pulses of electromagnetic radiation then timing how long it takes the pulses to be echoed off metal back to the aerial. (This takes 12.36 millionths of a second per mile) So this gives the range of the target. The aerial normally rotates and it is calibrated to 'know' where North is so a simple counter (counting the angle from north) will indicate the angle of the target(s) from north. The pulses are a burst of radiation at a specific frequency and this frequency has a wavelength depending on what the radar is used for - aircraft, weather, shipping or whatever. This wavelength can be from millimetres up to several centimetres. Sophisticated processing can take place on all the received echoes to eliminate clutter (ie non-moving echoes). This is fairly simplified but if you want a more detailed description let me know. Cheers, Andy

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