SONAR: Echo vs Reflection of Sound Waves

[Fiona Rozario]

When asked what the principle of SONAR is, is writing 'echo of sound waves' less accurate than 'reflection of sound waves'? They basically are the same...

 

[berkeman]

Maybe have a look at the Wikipedia definition -- it has a little more than just echolocation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonar

Do you think you should expand your definition slightly?

 

[Fiona Rozario]

Thanks...i was referring to active SONAR. A pulse is sent and the time lapse till its reflection is heard is found to find the distance of an object...

 

[berkeman]

Okay, so you are not including the "communication" aspect of SONAR then (as mentioned in the Wikipedia article).

'echo of sound waves' less accurate than 'reflection of sound waves'

Either phrase could be considered accurate, although technically you do need to detect the "echo" for echolocation to work. Just having a reflection of sound waves is not enough for echolocation to occur.

Quiz Question -- why are sharp angled polygons used in stealth aircraft and ships?

http://www.jetpix.com/webfiles/stealth/stealth8.jpg

 

[sophiecentaur]

ASDIC (link) was the British name for the system that was used for specifically detecting submarines.
(1935-40; A(nti-)S(ubmarine) D(etection) I(nvestigation) C(ommittee))
I can't think of a good reason for putting "committee" on the end, except to terminate the acronym so yo could say it easily. Pity it dropped out of use.