What does RADAR primarily measure?

RADAR primarily measures speed, specifically the speed of moving objects, such as vehicles. The technology utilizes the Doppler effect, which describes how the frequency of waves changes in relation to an observer moving relative to the source of the waves. When RADAR emits a radio wave towards a moving object, it receives the reflected wave back. If the object is moving towards the RADAR, the frequency of the reflected wave is higher, and if it's moving away, the frequency is lower. This change in frequency allows the RADAR system to calculate the speed of the object based on the frequency shift.

While frequency, wavelength, and amplitude are important characteristics of waves, in the context of RADAR's primary function, it is the measurement of speed that is most relevant and practical for applications such as traffic enforcement and monitoring. Therefore, focusing on speed as the primary measurement aligns with the core purpose of RADAR technology in speed detection.