North Carolina RADAR State Practice Exam

What is another name for the angular effect in RADAR usage?

1. Boundary effect

2. Response effect

3. Cosine effect

4. Velocity effect

The correct answer is: Cosine effect

The angular effect in RADAR usage is often referred to as the cosine effect. This effect refers to the phenomenon where the strength of the RADAR signal received is influenced by the angle at which the radar waves strike an object. When the target is at an angle to the radar's line of sight, less energy is reflected back to the radar, which can cause the readings to be less accurate. Understanding the cosine effect is crucial for interpreting RADAR data because it highlights how measurements may vary based on the orientation of the target relative to the radar system. This is particularly important in applications such as traffic enforcement or meteorological observations where the angle of incidence can significantly impact the results. The other terms do not accurately encapsulate this specific effect. For instance, while "boundary effect" could imply issues at the limits of detection, and "velocity effect" relates more to the movement of the target, they do not address the angle-specific influence on signal reception like the cosine effect does. The term "response effect" is vague and does not specifically relate to angle-related phenomena in RADAR usage.