When was radar invented

The Chain Home system worked fairly well, but it required huge antennas, and used long wavelengths that limited ability to pinpoint enemy aircraft accurately. During the day, fighter pilots could see enemy bombers. But soon the Germans began nighttime bombing missions, so to help fighter pilots locate enemy aircraft at night, the British needed a shorter wavelength radar system that was compact enough to install in planes.

This became possible when British engineers Harry Boot and John Randall invented the cavity magnetron in early The magnetron generated about hundred watts of power at wavelengths about 10 centimeters, enough to produce echoes from airplanes many miles away. The MIT Radiation Laboratory, was set up and quickly became one of the largest wartime projects, employing about people.

Researchers and workers there made mass-production versions of the magnetron and developed about different radar systems. After the war, many peaceful uses for radar technology were found.

Today air traffic control depends on radar to keep commercial aircraft from colliding. Radar is essential for tracking the weather. The cavity magnetron is now used to cook food in microwave ovens. And many motorists have been caught speeding by police radar guns, including, reportedly, Sir Watson-Watt himself. APS News Archives.

Librarians Authors Referees Media Students. Radar and high frequency techniques find application in many areas of daily life. The most common examples are surely the radar systems on ships as well as in air traffic for monitoring and navigation. It can, however, also be used for a wide range of scientific purposes, e.

Further applications include the measurement of the near-Earth orbit to gain new insights but also to protect space travel through enhanced space situational awareness. Other areas that use radar techniques include the automotive industry e.

As the German fighters ran low on fuel and were forced to turn back, the Spitfires and Hurricanes could pick off the German bombers as they moved deeper into England. The battle peaked during September and October The Germans, discouraged by their tactical errors and high losses, gradually tapered off their attacks, then abandoned them altogether when Hitler turned his attention to Russia. An interesting historical footnote: Although radar was introduced to warfare by the British, the Germans developed their own version and used it effectively during the Allied air raids over occupied Europe and the Reich.

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