Final answer:
The smallest observable detail using a 500-MHz radar would be approximately 0.3 to 0.6 meters, which is related to the radar's wavelength, with the resolution typically being half to one full wavelength under ideal conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics or dimensions of a LOAL search pattern are not clearly defined in the context of radar systems and their frequency-related resolution capabilities. However, discussing radar resolution, we can analyze the question about the smallest observable detail utilizing a 500-MHz radar. The resolution of a radar system is a function of its wavelength. The wavelength (λ) is inversely proportional to the frequency (f), where λ = c / f, and c is the speed of light (~3 x 108 m/s). A 500-MHz radar corresponds to a wavelength of 0.6 meters (using the formula λ = c / f). The resolution is typically on the order of the wavelength, which means that the smallest observable detail would be approximately half the wavelength, to a full wavelength in size, depending on the radar system design and other factors such as the signal processing algorithms used. Therefore, it would be in the range of 0.3 to 0.6 meters under ideal conditions.