Final answer:
NEXRAD can measure the distance to and velocity of objects by employing microwave echoes and Doppler shifts in the radar signal, making radar a critical tool in many technological and scientific fields.
Step-by-step explanation:
NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar) can measure both distance to objects such as clouds and aircraft and the velocity of objects like the speed of a car or the intensity of a rainstorm. Radar, a common application of microwaves, employs microwave echoes to determine these measurements. A Doppler shift in the radar echo allows for velocity determinations. When the microwave frequency changes as it reflects off a moving object, by analyzing this change, the radar system can deduce the speed at which the object is moving towards or away from the radar source.
Radar technology, which relies on electromagnetic waves with wavelengths similar to microwaves, plays a crucial role in various fields such as meteorology, aviation safety, and law enforcement. The sophistication of the radar system, including its resolution, is dependent upon the wavelength of the microwaves used, with shorter wavelengths allowing for finer detail resolution.