Which statement correctly identifies the meaning of range on a radar display?

Which statement correctly identifies the meaning of range on a radar display?

• A. Distance to the target
• B. Speed of the target
• C. Direction to the target
• D. Height of the target

Answer: (C)

Range on a radar display is the distance from the radar to the target along the line of sight. On a typical plan-position indicator, the radar sits at the center and targets appear at a position a certain distance away—the radial distance from the center is the range, usually shown in nautical miles. This lets you estimate how far away the target is at a glance. Direction to the target is a separate measure, the bearing or azimuth, which is the angle around the display from a reference direction. The target’s position around the circle tells you where it is in angle, not how far away it is. Speed isn’t given by the range value itself; you figure speed from how quickly the range (and possibly the bearing) changes over time. Height or altitude isn’t shown by range on a standard 2D radar display; that requires additional data or a 3D display.

Range on a radar display is the distance from the radar to the target along the line of sight. On a typical plan-position indicator, the radar sits at the center and targets appear at a position a certain distance away—the radial distance from the center is the range, usually shown in nautical miles. This lets you estimate how far away the target is at a glance.

Direction to the target is a separate measure, the bearing or azimuth, which is the angle around the display from a reference direction. The target’s position around the circle tells you where it is in angle, not how far away it is. Speed isn’t given by the range value itself; you figure speed from how quickly the range (and possibly the bearing) changes over time. Height or altitude isn’t shown by range on a standard 2D radar display; that requires additional data or a 3D display.