How is range typically measured in radar technology?

In radar technology, range is typically measured by the elapsed time from when a pulse is transmitted until the echo of that pulse is received back after reflecting off a target. This fundamental principle relies on the speed of light, allowing technicians to determine the distance to an object based on the time it takes for a radar signal to travel to the target and return.

When a pulse is emitted, the radar system keeps track of the time taken for the signal to return. Since the speed of light is a known constant, the time duration can be multiplied by the speed of light to calculate the total distance traveled by the signal. However, because the signal travels to the target and back, the actual range to the target is half of this total distance.

Other methods, like direct distance calculation, wouldn't apply here as radar primarily depends on time measurements rather than direct distance measurement. Additionally, while analyzing signal strength can provide insights into target characteristics, it does not measure range. Amplitude modulation is more related to altering the signal waveforms rather than directly measuring distance in radar applications. Thus, time measurement is the most accurate and widely used method for determining range in radar systems.