What does a range-velocity (R-V) plot display?

What does a range-velocity (R-V) plot display?

• A. Range versus relative velocity
• B. Bearing versus altitude
• C. Own speed versus target distance
• D. Clutter density versus detection threshold

Answer: (A)

Range-velocity plots map where targets are in distance and how fast they are moving toward or away from the radar. The horizontal axis (range) tells you how far the target is, while the vertical axis (relative or radial velocity) shows the speed component along the line of sight between the target and the radar. This Doppler-related velocity is what helps separate moving targets from stationary clutter, since stationary objects cluster near zero relative velocity and moving targets appear at nonzero velocities. The concept isn’t about bearing or altitude, nor about the radar operator’s own speed versus target distance, or clutter density versus detection threshold—the plot specifically pairs distance with the target’s radial motion.

Range-velocity plots map where targets are in distance and how fast they are moving toward or away from the radar. The horizontal axis (range) tells you how far the target is, while the vertical axis (relative or radial velocity) shows the speed component along the line of sight between the target and the radar. This Doppler-related velocity is what helps separate moving targets from stationary clutter, since stationary objects cluster near zero relative velocity and moving targets appear at nonzero velocities. The concept isn’t about bearing or altitude, nor about the radar operator’s own speed versus target distance, or clutter density versus detection threshold—the plot specifically pairs distance with the target’s radial motion.