Examine radar security at the Olympic Games

Overview: Why is radar being used at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City? Have students research the development of radar and its various uses. Challenge students to predict new ways in which radar can be used in everyday life.

Curriculum Connections: Current Events, Technology

Have students watch the video, "Tough security measures at Salt Lake City," and answer the following:

1.How is mobile radar being used to enhance security at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City? Who is responsible for running the Mountaintop Radar Station? What do you think would be the most challenging aspect of the radar crew's job?

2.What is radar? What are its different uses? Refer students to the links below and other resources to learn about the development of radar and its different uses. Group students and have each group prepare an oral report about the different uses of radar in one of the following areas:

3.Instruct each group to prepare a diagram of the radar set used for its assigned topic and explain how it works. After the presentations, point out that researchers are now looking for ways to reduce the size of microwave radars and manufacture them at low cost. For example, pocket-sized radar units could be widely used as aids for blind people and as collision-warning devices in cars. Challenge students to think of ways that smaller, less expensive radars could be used.

Materials on this site are reproducible for classroom use.