In radar technology, what does the term 'closing speed' refer to?

The term 'closing speed' in radar technology specifically refers to the relative speed of two objects that are approaching each other. This concept is crucial in the context of speed measurement, as it allows officers to assess how fast a target vehicle is moving toward a stationary patrol vehicle or vice versa.

In practical application, when a radar unit is used to measure the speed of a vehicle, it calculates the speed based on the Doppler effect, which is the change in frequency of the radar waves as they reflect off moving objects. The closing speed is important because it provides the necessary information to determine how quickly the vehicles are getting closer together, affecting the radar's reading and understanding of the situation.

The target vehicle's speed, the patrol vehicle's speed, or the time for a radar pulse to return, while relevant to the overall context of speed measurement, do not accurately define the term 'closing speed' itself.