Asked by mr 67

cientists use sonar, or sound navigation and ranging, to map features of the ocean floor and locate hazards for navigation. Sonar emits sound waves through the water, and when these waves reflect off objects, the returning waves provide details about how far away objects are.



Why are sound waves a better option than light waves for this purpose?


Sound waves have a higher frequency than light waves.


Sound waves have a shorter wavelength than light waves.


Sound waves carry more energy in water than light waves.


Sound waves travel farther distances in water than light waves.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
Sound waves travel farther distances in water than light waves.

Explanation: Water strongly scatters and absorbs light, so optical signals are rapidly attenuated underwater. Sound propagates much farther with less attenuation in water, so sonar pulses can reach the seafloor and return usable echoes. (The other choices are incorrect: sound does not have a higher frequency or shorter wavelength than light, nor does it carry more energy in water in the relevant sense.)