Ultrasonic Waves for Fathometer
Question:
Why ultrasonic waves is used instead of audible waves to measure
depth of sea?
It is said in our book that ultrasonic waves
1. will not be interfered with other sound waves in water
and
2. small sized objects can be located
I don't understand the above 2 reasons.
Answer:
In detecting objects by bouncing waves off them, the smallest
size detectable will be roughly the same size as the wavelength.
In measuring the depth of water, the accuracy can be no better
than about one wavelength. Ultrasonic waves have short wavelength
so they can "see" smaller objects and more precisely
measure depth. Also there is a lot of naturally occurring and man
made noise in the ocean. If audio waves were used to measure
ocean depth this noise might interfere with the depth measurement
by being misinterpreted as an echo from the bottom.