Final answer:
A sonar system measures distance by determining the time it takes for sound waves to bounce off a surface. The distance can be calculated using the speed of sound and the measured time interval of the echo. Sonar is used for navigation, object detection underwater, and by animals for echolocation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A sonar system measures distance by determining the time it takes for sound waves to bounce off a surface and return to the source. The sonar device, which can be found on ships and submarines, emits a sound wave that reflects off of an object and the time for the echo to return is recorded. Since the speed of sound in a given medium, like water, is known, the distance to the object can be calculated by multiplying the speed of sound by half of the time interval measured because the sound has to travel to the object and back.
This method is used across various applications such as navigation, locating underwater objects, and marine biology. It allows the detection of objects under water with great precision. Moreover, animals like bats and dolphins also use a form of sonar called echolocation to navigate and hunt for prey.
Limitations in the time resolution of sonar can affect its ability to discern the size and shape of objects, as a higher precision in measuring echo times allows for detecting smaller differences in distances. The differentiation of shapes and sizes is also influenced by the density variations of objects, with sound reflecting strongly where there are significant changes in density.