Are PIR detectors most sensitive to motion toward and away from the detector?

PIR (Passive Infrared) detectors primarily sense changes in infrared radiation, which emanates from objects in their field of view. They are particularly sensitive to motion across their detection zones rather than directly toward or away from them. When an object moves across the field of the detector, it creates a pattern of changing infrared radiation that the detector can recognize. This capability enables the system to detect movement effectively when a person or object crosses the detection area.

If an object moves directly toward or away from the detector, it may not change the infrared radiation in a way that the detector can easily register, often resulting in a decreased sensitivity for those motion paths. Because of this, the statement claiming that PIR detectors are most sensitive to motion toward and away from them is not accurate, hence the answer is that it is false.