A RADAR beam with an angle of 11 degrees will be approximately how wide at 200 feet down the road?

To determine the width of a RADAR beam at a certain distance, you can use the angle of the beam's spread. The width can be calculated using basic trigonometry, where the width of the beam at a specific distance is derived from the tangent of half the angle multiplied by that distance.

In this case, with an angle of 11 degrees, you first need to find half of that angle, which is 5.5 degrees. When you use the tangent function, the calculation will involve the distance down the road (200 feet) and the angle.

Using the formula:

Width = 2 × (Distance × tan(Angle/2))

It translates into:

Width = 2 × (200 feet × tan(5.5 degrees))

Calculating this, you find that the result gives you approximately 38 feet. This confirms that at 200 feet down the road, the width of the RADAR beam would be approximately 38 feet, making this the most accurate answer among the options provided.

This understanding of radar beam width is crucial for radar operators, as it impacts the accuracy of speed enforcement and the ability to correctly assess vehicle speeds, ensuring that every officer maintains effective practices while operating within the constraints of