Final answer:
The radar antenna transmits and receives electromagnetic waves to detect and measure the distance and speed of objects, by measuring the time and frequency shift of the returned signals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of the radar antenna during transmission is to emit electromagnetic waves, which travel in the direction the antenna is pointed. The waves then bounce off objects in the environment, and the radar antenna receives the echoes of these waves. By analyzing the time it takes for the echoes to return, and the Doppler shift in frequency of the waves, the radar system calculates the distance to, and speed of, objects such as clouds, aircraft, or astronomical bodies. Receiver antennas are engineered to resonate at specific frequencies for optimal detection of these returning waves. This allows for high-definition imagery and precise measurements, as exemplified by the 50-foot radar dish used by Kennedy Space Center for tracking launch vehicles or the 70-meter-wide Mars antenna that measures distances to planets and asteroids.
The function of the radar antenna during transmission is to produce electromagnetic waves that are used to detect the location and speed of distant objects. The incoming electromagnetic wave accelerates electrons in the antenna, setting up a standing wave. The antenna then transmits the wave to the target, and by measuring the time it takes for the wave to return as an echo, the radar system can determine the distance to the object.