Can anybody end a long running dispute for me & tell me what is the difference between sonar & radar??
Thanks!

hi Sam, Im no expert but I think Radar uses radio wave to detect things and Sonar uses sound waves to pick things up. hope this is useful. sarah

Doesn't sonar bounce sound waves off things to locate them ?
Liz

Hello :)

Radar is radio wave emissions in air, used to detect things on or above surface of water or land.

Sonar is sound wave emission in water, used to detect things below the surface of water - e.g. submarines, shoals of fish and underwater topography.

The principle of bouncing a signal (be it radio or sound) off objects, to measure distance is the same in both cases, but radio waves are ineffective under water, hence the use of sound in water.

Sound works in air as well - see echo-location in bats.

Hope this helps.
Snorri
Twilight Zone biologist :D

I knew there would someone clever on this board...thanks...we can stop arguing now!