What is the consequence of using a larger angle when measuring with RADAR?

Prepare for the North Carolina Basic RADAR Operator Test. Study with flashcards, multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Using a larger angle when measuring with RADAR typically leads to an overestimation of the vehicle's speed. This is due to the geometry of the RADAR system and the principles of Doppler effect and triangulation involved in measuring how fast an object is moving towards or away from the sensor.

When the angle between the RADAR beam and the direction of the vehicle's movement increases, the effective measurement of speed becomes distorted. This happens because the speed reading is based on the component of the vehicle's speed that is directly along the line of sight of the RADAR beam. A larger angle means that less of the vehicle's true speed is projected onto the direction of the RADAR beam, thus making it appear as if the speed is higher than it actually is. This geometric distortion is critical in understanding how RADAR measures speed and is a common concern for operators.

In contrast, measuring at a smaller angle allows for a more accurate representation of the vehicle's true speed, as more of its speed vector aligns with the RADAR beam's direction. Hence, for an accurate assessment of speed, it is crucial to keep the measurement angle as small as possible.

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