MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

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What scientific method do radars use to calculate the distance to an object?

The Coriolis Effect
The Doppler Effect
The Kruger Effect
Frequency Modulation

The correct answer is: The Doppler Effect

Radars utilize the Doppler Effect to calculate the distance to an object. This phenomenon occurs when a wave source moves relative to an observer, causing changes in the frequency of the waves perceived by the observer. In radar systems, a signal is transmitted towards an object, and when the signal reflects off the object and returns to the radar, the frequency of the returned signal can be compared to the emitted frequency. By analyzing the difference in frequency between the emitted and returned signals, the radar system can determine not only the speed of the object but also the distance to it. This is because the time it takes for the signal to travel to the object and back is directly related to the distance. Thus, the measurement of the change in frequency allows for accurate calculations of both distance and relative movement of the object, making the Doppler Effect a crucial scientific principle behind radar technology.