SONAR

SONAR is the short form for Sound Navigation and Ranging. It is used to find the distance, direction and speed of objects that are present under the water. It uses ultrasonic waves to do so.

The sonar consists of two main components:

1. Transmitter: It produces and sends ultrasonic sound waves into the water.
2. Detector or receiver: It captures the reflected sound waves (echo) from underwater objects.

Process of SONAR technique:

• The transmitter emits ultrasonic sound waves that travel through water. These waves strike underwater objects, such as hills, submarines, or icebergs and get reflected.
• The distance of the object is calculated with the help of the speed of sound in water and the time taken by the wave to reach the detector. This process is called echo ranging.
• The detector converts the ultrasonic waves into electrical signals, which are appropriately interpreted.
• The distance of the object that reflected the sound wave can be calculated by knowing the speed of sound in water and the time interval between transmission and reception of the ultrasound.

Let the time interval between transmission and reception of the ultrasound signal be t and the speed of sound through seawater be v. The total distance, 2d, travelled by the ultrasound is then 2d = v × t.

The SONAR technique

1. SONAR is used to measure the depth of the sea by reflecting sound waves off the seabed.
2. It helps locate underwater objects like hills, valleys, and submerged structures.
3. Ships and submarines use SONAR to detect icebergs and other obstacles to ensure safe navigation.
4. It assists in finding sunken ships and other valuable objects underwater.
5. The technology is widely used in underwater exploration and mapping of the ocean floor.
6. Military applications include detecting and tracking enemy submarines.
7. It aids in scientific research, such as studying marine life and underwater ecosystems.
8. Fishing industries use SONAR to locate schools of fish in the ocean.