Which statement accurately defines azimuth and elevation scanning and contrasts mechanical vs electronic scanning?

Which statement accurately defines azimuth and elevation scanning and contrasts mechanical vs electronic scanning?

• A. Azimuth and elevation are horizontal and vertical angles; mechanical scanning moves the antenna physically, while electronic scanning steers the beam via phase control.
• B. Azimuth measures range, while elevation measures altitude of the radar.
• C. Mechanical scanning is faster than electronic scanning in all cases.
• D. Electronic scanning physically rotates the antenna.

Answer: (B)

Azimuth and elevation define where the radar beam is pointed in the horizontal and vertical planes. Azimuth is the horizontal angle, and elevation is the vertical angle. Scanning methods differ in how that pointing is achieved. Mechanical scanning moves the antenna itself to point in different directions, physically rotating or tilting the dish or array. Electronic scanning, on the other hand, steers the beam without moving the hardware by adjusting the relative phases (and sometimes amplitudes) of the array elements, steering the main lobe through phase control. This matches the statement that correctly describes azimuth and elevation as horizontal and vertical angles and contrasts the two approaches by saying the antenna is moved mechanically for mechanical scanning, while the beam is steered electronically via phase control for electronic scanning. The other options mix up what azimuth and elevation measure, imply that range or altitude are being defined, or misstate how electronic or mechanical scanning works (for example, electronic scanning does not physically rotate the antenna).

Azimuth and elevation define where the radar beam is pointed in the horizontal and vertical planes. Azimuth is the horizontal angle, and elevation is the vertical angle. Scanning methods differ in how that pointing is achieved. Mechanical scanning moves the antenna itself to point in different directions, physically rotating or tilting the dish or array. Electronic scanning, on the other hand, steers the beam without moving the hardware by adjusting the relative phases (and sometimes amplitudes) of the array elements, steering the main lobe through phase control.

This matches the statement that correctly describes azimuth and elevation as horizontal and vertical angles and contrasts the two approaches by saying the antenna is moved mechanically for mechanical scanning, while the beam is steered electronically via phase control for electronic scanning.

The other options mix up what azimuth and elevation measure, imply that range or altitude are being defined, or misstate how electronic or mechanical scanning works (for example, electronic scanning does not physically rotate the antenna).