Sonar Essentials: 16 flashcards
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1. What does SONAR stand for?
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SOund Navigation And Ranging
2. What is the basic principle behind sonar?
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Sonar uses sound waves that travel through water, reflect off objects, and return as echoes. By measuring the time delay, distance and properties of objects can be determined.
3. What type of waves does sonar use?
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Ultrasonic sound waves (high-frequency, above human hearing range).
4. What is the formula to calculate distance using sonar?
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Distance = (Speed of sound in water × Time taken for echo) / 2
5. What is the speed of sound in seawater approximately?
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About 1500 meters per second (m/s).
6. What are the two main types of sonar?
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Active sonar and Passive sonar.
7. How does active sonar work?
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It emits a pulse of sound (ping) and listens for the echo reflected from objects.
8. How does passive sonar work?
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It only listens for sounds emitted by other objects (e.g., ships, submarines, marine animals) without transmitting any sound.
9. What is a major advantage of passive sonar over active sonar?
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It does not reveal the presence of the listener (e.g., a submarine) because it emits no detectable sound.
10. What is a common application of sonar in navigation?
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Echo sounding to measure water depth and map the seafloor, helping ships avoid shallow areas.
11. How is sonar used in fishing?
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To locate schools of fish by detecting their echoes, helping fishermen find productive areas.
12. What is a military application of sonar?
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Detecting and tracking submarines and underwater mines.
13. What is a key limitation of sonar in terms of range?
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Sound waves attenuate (lose energy) as they travel, limiting the effective range, especially for high frequencies.
14. Why is sonar preferred over radar underwater?
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Radio waves (used by radar) are strongly absorbed by water, while sound waves travel long distances efficiently.
15. What does a sonar 'ping' refer to?
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The short burst of sound emitted by an active sonar system.
16. How does sonar help in oceanography?
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It is used to map the ocean floor, study underwater geological features, and locate underwater objects or wrecks.
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