All Problems

Optics of Moving Sources

Problem 5.230

A radar operates at a wavelength λ=50.0 cm\lambda=50.0 \mathrm{~cm}. Find the velocity of an approaching aircraft if the beat frequency between the transmitted signal and the signal reflected from the aircraft is equal to Δv=1.00kHz\Delta v=1.00 \mathrm{kHz} at the radar location.

Reveal Answer
v=1/2λΔv900 km per hour. v=1 / 2 \lambda \Delta v \approx 900 \mathrm{~km} \text { per hour. }