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... Radar and Satellite Laser Ranging are two examples of physics innovations that have revolutionized the modern world.
Radar involves the transmission of pulses of electromagnetic waves by means of a directional antenna; some of the pulses are reflected by objects that intercept them. ... The range of the object is determined by measuring the time it takes for the radar signal to reach the object and return. The objects location with respect to the radar unit is determined from the direction in which the pulse was received. In most radar units the beam of pulses is continuously rotated at a constant speed, or it is scanned (swung back and forth) over a sector, also at a constant rate. The velocity of the object is measured by applying the Doppler principle: if the object is approaching the radar unit, the frequency of the returned signal is greater than the frequency of the transmitted signal; if the object is receding from the radar unit, the returned frequency is less; and if the object is not moving relative to the radar unit, the return signal will have the same frequency as the transmitted signal.
Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) is a particularly accurate method of measuring distances by bouncing a laser beam off special satellites carrying highly efficient mirrors called retro-reflectors
The basic principle of SLR is very simple. A telescope tracks the satellite as it orbits overhead and fires a very short burst of laser light towards it. ... The burst travels up to the satellite where a retro-reflector bounces it back to the telescope again where it stops the timer.
Approximate Word count = 1297
Approximate Pages = 5.2
(250 words per page double spaced)
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