Q.Microwaves are used in Radars, why?
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Microwaves have a short wavelength, so they can be transmitted in narrow, well-directed beams from comparatively small antennas and reflect sharply off objects — exactly what a radar needs to locate and track targets accurately.
Why microwaves are used in radar
Microwaves have wavelengths roughly in the range of 1 mm to 30 cm (frequencies ~1 GHz–300 GHz), much shorter than radio waves.
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Directionality: Because of their short wavelength, microwaves — like light — can be transmitted as narrow, well-collimated beams using antennas of a practical (small) size. A narrow beam allows the radar to determine the precise direction of a distant object (aircraft, ship).
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Reflection off objects: Their wavelength is comparable to the size of typical targets (aircraft, ships), so microwaves are efficiently reflected back by these objects, allowing the returned echo to be detected.
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