Which component of the radar system amplifies the returned echoes?

The receiver in a radar system plays a crucial role in the processing of radar signals. When the radar emits a pulse of energy towards an object, that pulse travels through the air, reflects off the object, and returns as an echo. This returned echo is typically very weak due to the attenuation of the signal over distance and the scattering effects when it interacts with various surfaces.

The primary function of the receiver is to capture these faint echoes and amplify them so that they can be processed and interpreted further. Without this amplification, the signal would be too weak to extract meaningful information about the object, such as its distance, speed, and size. The receiver effectively enhances the weak echoes, enabling the radar system to detect and analyze the presence of objects within its range accurately.

The other components, while important, serve different functions: the transmitter generates the radar signal, the indicator displays the processed information, and the duplexer manages the switching between the transmission and reception paths. Each of these components is essential for the radar system's overall functionality, but the amplification of the returned echoes specifically relies on the receiver.