What is meant by ranging in radar technology?

Ranging in radar technology refers to the process of measuring the distance to an object by timing how long it takes for a radar signal to travel to the object and back. When a radar system emits a pulse of radio waves, these waves travel through the atmosphere and reflect off objects in their path, such as precipitation, aircraft, or terrain. The radar receiver then detects the reflected waves and calculates the time taken for the pulse to return. Since radio waves travel at a constant speed (the speed of light), this time can be used to determine the distance to the object using the formula: distance = (time x speed of light) / 2. This crucial capability allows radar systems to create accurate representations of the range and location of detected objects, which is fundamental in various applications such as weather monitoring, aviation, and military operations.