Question

A large in-falling fragment could be tracked using radar. Explain how distance, speed, and the direction of motion, of the fragment could be determined. (15 points)

Answer 1

Answer:

speed, distance  and direction of motion of the object can be determined by analyzing the radio wave.

Explanation:

We know that radar operates by transmitting radio waves to a destination and these waves are comes back to the receiver station. By Considering this transmission and receiver process, we can measure the distance, velocity and path of an object's movement.

Distance can be assessed by taking following consideration,  the velocity of the waves is V. It can help to assess the time made for the waves to be emitted by the radar and felt by the receiver, let the time be t.

Therefore  distance can be determine as D= v*t/2,

here 2 signifies that the distance travelled by the wave in either direction ( from transmitter to receiver and vice verse)

Using the source wave frequency, speed can be computed. In a specific frequency, the radar starts sending out the frequencies and the reflected wave will have a distinct frequency. The velocity can be determine by

$v= (\Delta f/f)(c/2),$

where$\Delta f$is the change in frequency and

c is the speed of light (the wave).

Direction can be determine by applying above principle. change in frequency is used to determine the direction in the following way:

When the frequency transition is very low, the object moves away from the radar and vice verse.