Which term describes the area of a reflector that redirects energy toward a target?

Which term describes the area of a reflector that redirects energy toward a target?

• A. Aperture
• B. Feedhorn
• C. Reflector
• D. Polarization

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the surface doing the redirection of the waves toward the target is the reflector itself. In a dish antenna, the feedhorn sends energy to the parabolic surface, which then reflects and shapes that energy into a focused beam directed at the target. The reflector—the dish—defines where the energy goes by its curved shape and area, so describing the area that redirects energy toward the target is calling it the reflector. The feedhorn is just the energy source, and polarization concerns the orientation of the electric field, not the physical area that performs the redirection.

The key idea is that the surface doing the redirection of the waves toward the target is the reflector itself. In a dish antenna, the feedhorn sends energy to the parabolic surface, which then reflects and shapes that energy into a focused beam directed at the target. The reflector—the dish—defines where the energy goes by its curved shape and area, so describing the area that redirects energy toward the target is calling it the reflector. The feedhorn is just the energy source, and polarization concerns the orientation of the electric field, not the physical area that performs the redirection.