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GCSE Physics · key term
A method of detecting underwater objects or measuring depth by sending out sound pulses and detecting their echoes.
Used by Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.15P · Paper 1
A method of using reflected sound pulses to locate an underwater object or measure water depth.
Revise: Uses of Ultrasound/InfrasoundA sonar device sends a short pulse of ultrasound through water. The pulse reflects from an object, such as the seabed, and an echo returns to the device.
Specification P5.1g, P8.3i · Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher)
A method that sends out sound pulses and detects their echoes to locate objects or measure distances underwater.
Revise: Wave interactions at interfaceSonar uses returning sound pulses underwater. A ship can send a pulse towards the seabed and detect the echo reflected from it. The time between sending and receiving tells us about the depth because the sound travels down and back; the depth is half the total distance travelled by the sound.
A method of detecting underwater objects or measuring water depth using sound waves and their echoes.
Paper 1, Paper 2
Revise: Wave Applications in Detection and ExplorationSONAR uses the same pulse-and-echo idea underwater. A boat sends a sound pulse into the water. The seabed or an underwater object reflects some of it back to a detector.
In sonar, the measured time is for the outward and return journeys. Divide the total distance travelled by two to find the depth.
For sonar depth calculations, halve the total distance travelled by the sound because the pulse goes down and the echo comes back.
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