North Carolina RADAR State Practice Exam

What is a potential ineffective method for jamming speed measuring RADAR?

1. Aluminum paint stripes

2. Hiding small metal strips

3. Furious honking of the horn

4. Using a radar reflector

The correct answer is: Aluminum paint stripes

Using aluminum paint stripes as a method for jamming speed measuring RADAR is considered ineffective primarily because RADAR technology operates on specific wavelengths that are not adequately disrupted by simple reflective surfaces or materials like paint. RADAR systems work by sending out radio waves and measuring the reflection that comes back from objects. For jamming to be effective, a method must significantly alter or interfere with the signal being transmitted back to the RADAR receiver. While certain physical materials can create reflections, aluminum paint applied in stripes does not typically create a strong enough signal disruption. This contrasts with methods like using a radar reflector, which is designed to bounce signals back in a way that confuses the RADAR equipment. Hiding small metal strips might be somewhat effective depending on their orientation and placement but lacks the intended design for jamming. Honking the horn, while perhaps drawing attention, does not impact the radio waves at all. Therefore, aluminum paint stripes are not sufficient for effectively jamming speed measuring RADAR, as they do not produce a significant interference signal needed to evade detection.