How long does it take for RF energy to travel one nautical mile?

The calculation of how long it takes for RF energy to travel one nautical mile is based on the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second or about 983,561,600 feet per second. A nautical mile is defined as exactly 1,852 meters or about 6,076.1 feet.

To determine the time it takes for RF energy to cover a nautical mile, you can use the formula:

Time (seconds) = Distance (feet) / Speed (feet per second).

Using the speed of light, the calculation goes as follows:

Time = 6,076.1 feet / 983,561,600 feet per second ≈ 6.18 microseconds.

This means that it takes RF energy approximately 6.18 microseconds to travel one nautical mile, making this the correct choice. Understanding the relationship between distance and the speed of light is crucial for applications in radar and telecommunications.