North Carolina RADAR State Practice Exam

Ranging on a RADAR instrument provides information about what?

1. The speed of the target vehicle

2. The distance to the target vehicle

3. The direction of the target vehicle

4. The type of vehicle being tracked

The correct answer is: The distance to the target vehicle

Ranging on a RADAR instrument specifically refers to determining the distance between the RADAR unit and the target object, such as a vehicle. This functionality is based on the time it takes for a radar signal to travel to the target and back to the source. When a radar pulse is emitted and reflects off the target, the time interval can be measured, and using the speed of light, the system can calculate how far away the target is in space. While RADAR systems can also provide information about the speed and direction of the target vehicle through Doppler effects and other methods, those functions are distinct from ranging itself. Ranging does not assess the speed or determine the type of vehicle being tracked; it solely focuses on distance measurement. The complexities of tracking multiple parameters require additional technologies or algorithms beyond simple ranging. Therefore, understanding the nature of ranging as a distance-measurement function clarifies why the correct answer pertains to the distance to the target vehicle.