North Carolina RADAR State Practice Exam

What target composition will "absorb" a RADAR signal?

1. Glass, plastics

2. Leaves, sand, grass, earth

3. Metal, stone, wood, concrete

4. Water, aluminum, asphalt

The correct answer is: Leaves, sand, grass, earth

The choice of leaves, sand, grass, and earth as the target composition that will absorb a RADAR signal is accurate because these materials generally do not reflect electromagnetic waves in the same way that metals or other hard surfaces do. RADAR systems operate by sending out a pulse of microwave signals and then interpreting the reflected waves. Materials like leaves, sand, grass, and earth are often porous or consist of small particles, which can scatter the RADAR signals, leading to absorption rather than reflection. This means that when RADAR signals encounter these types of surfaces, they are less likely to bounce back to the system, making them less detectable. In contrast, materials like metals and concrete are more effective at reflecting RADAR signals due to their denser and smoother surfaces. This reflective property allows RADAR systems to effectively identify and locate such objects, while the absorptive properties of organic matter and natural ground cover result in a diminished signal return, consequently affecting the accuracy and effectiveness of radar detection in those contexts.