Speed Guns

sfg-2026
ForumIAS LATEST
  1. 04 June | MGP Strategy Series | GS Paper 4 (Ethics) with AIR 7 A.R. Rajah Mohaideen Click Here to register for the session →
  2. 04 June | GS Advance Program begins from 4th June 2026 | First 2 classes open to all Click Here to register for the event →
  3. 05 June | MGP Strategy Series | GS Paper 3 Strategy Session with AIR 406 Mannat Luthra Click Here to register for the session
  4. 06 June | Open Orientation on Essay Guidance Program (EGP 2026) Click Here to register →
  5. 07 June | Open Orientation for Current Affairs for Mains 2026 Click Here to register →
  6. 07 June | Sociology Optional Strategy Session with AIR 10 Ujjwal Priyank Click Here to register →

News: Speed guns are being widely used by law enforcement officials to monitor traffic speed. 

About Speed Gun

Speed Gun
Source- The Hindu
  • It is a device to measure the speed of a moving object without having to be in contact with the object. 
  • It was originally developed during World War 2 for military use. 
  • Functioning of a Speed Gun 
    • It consists of a radio transmitter and a receiver. 
    • The transmitter emits radio waves, which the person using the speed gun can direct at the object. 
    • The receiver then captures the waves reflected by the object back in the direction of the speed gun. 
    • The speed gun employs the Doppler Effect to calculate the speed of the object based on the frequency difference between the transmitted and reflected waves. 
  • Application: Speed guns are widely used by law enforcement officials to monitor traffic speed, by coaches to measure the performance of their athletes and in other industries that require motion tracking. 
  • Limitations:
    • Radio Waves tend to diverge as they move through the air, producing inaccurate speed readings. 
    • A continuous wave reading may produce faulty readings due to interference from multiple vehicles. 
  • Due to these limitations, LIDAR speed guns are being promoted as they use laser light instead of radio waves. 
    • Laser light has very low divergence, offering better targeting. 
Print Friendly and PDF
Blog
Academy
Community