Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihlpf.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ihlpf!stewart
From: stewart@ihlpf.UUCP (R. J. Stewart)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Radar effectiveness
Message-ID: <334@ihlpf.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 19-Feb-86 11:39:08 EST
Article-I.D.: ihlpf.334
Posted: Wed Feb 19 11:39:08 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 20-Feb-86 07:57:43 EST
References: <1113@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 19

> Simple question, I hope easy answer:
>
>	I have a vinyl nose mask on my car.  It has cloth backing.  The
> way it covers those nose allows almost no metal to be seen while looking
> straight on the front of the car.
> ...
>	My question:  Is the front of my car 'stealthy' (sorry for the word,
> but what the h*ll); i.e. will it make a bad reflector for radar signals?

Not likely.  Remember that three things can happen when electomagnetic
radiation hits an object: the radiation is absorbed, reflected, or
transmitted.  If your nose mask reflects, it's as easily detected as
metal.  If it transmits, the signal will simply be reflected off the
metal behind it (this seems most likely).  It's unlikely that it would
absorb the signal (though you might watch to see if your engine
temperature guage goes up next time you pass a radar trap :-)

Bob Stewart
ihnp4!ihlpf!stewart