What factors determine the amount of power returned or scattered by a target?

The amount of power returned or scattered by a target in radar systems is primarily influenced by its size, shape, and composition.

The size of a target plays a crucial role because larger targets typically have a greater surface area to reflect the radar waves, increasing the amount of energy returned to the radar system. The shape is equally important, as it affects how the radar waves interact with the target. Different shapes can cause variations in scattering patterns; for instance, a flat surface will reflect radar waves differently than a curved or irregular surface.

The composition of the target material also significantly impacts the radar return. Different materials have varying electrical properties, such as conductivity and dielectric constant, which influence how radar waves are absorbed, reflected, or transmitted. For instance, metal objects generally reflect radar signals better than non-metal materials.

In contrast, factors such as color, texture, weight, speed, altitude, density, volume, or material do not directly correlate with the mechanisms of radar scattering in the same manner. While such aspects might influence a system's operational characteristics or visibility, they do not fundamentally determine the intensity of the radar return. The core determinants remain rooted in the physical characteristics of the target itself: size, shape, and composition.