Radar uses radio waves to detect and study distant targets. It works by transmitting radio pulses toward a target and measuring the time it takes for the echo signal to return. This round-trip time is used to calculate the target's range. Radar can determine other characteristics like azimuth, elevation, size, speed, and features by analyzing properties of the reflected radio pulses. Different radar frequencies are used for various applications such as air traffic control, weather monitoring, and radio astronomy.