Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance, direction, and speed of objects. It comprises a transmitter that produces electromagnetic waves, a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna (often the same for both functions), and a receiver and processor to analyze the object's properties.
The development of radar began in 1895 when Alexander Popov, a physics instructor in Russia, created a device to detect distant lightning using a coherer tube. In 1897, while testing communication between two ships, Popov noticed interference from a third ship and suggested it could be used for object detection, though he did not pursue this idea further.
In 1922, U.S. Navy researchers A. Hoyt Taylor and Leo C. Young placed a transmitter and receiver on opposite sides of the Potomac River and observed that passing ships caused the signal to fade. Taylor reported that this could help detect ships in low visibility, but the Navy did not pursue the idea at that time. Eight years later, Lawrence A. Hyland at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) noticed similar signal fading caused by passing aircraft, leading to a patent application.
These early observations laid the foundation for the development of radar, which would later become a critical technology during World War II for detecting objects under various conditions, and especially in military applications.
Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
A. The passage introduces a scientific concept, discusses its early theoretical development, and then highlights its practical applications over time.
B. The passage presents a historical overview of a technology, focusing on key developments and the gradual recognition of its potential.
C. The passage defines a technology, traces its development through a chronological sequence of discoveries, and concludes with its current applications.
D. The passage discusses a scientific principle, describes the challenges in its early implementation, and outlines the steps taken to overcome these challenges.
E. The passage introduces a concept, contrasts the contributions of different researchers, and concludes with a discussion of the technology's modern-day relevance.