Sonar and Echolocation Subject Topics: Physics and Biology

Engage

Exploring Sound Go to: Flip the switch at the top of the interactive illustration to “Exploring Pitch and Volume” Explore sound waves at various frequencies Objective: Differentiate the characteristics of high frequency verses low frequency sound waves using one of the following options:

High Frequency vs. Low Frequency 1. What did you learn about sound waves at with high frequency versus low frequency? 2. What is frequency measured in? Low Frequency WavesHigh Frequency Waves

1.Visit to listen to the sound. 2.Identify what is making the sound. 3.Show which answer you believe is correct: A – Hold up 1 finger B – Hold up 2 fingers C – Hold up 3 fingers D – Hold up 4 fingers 5. See if you were correct. The “Name That Sound” Game

Guiding Questions 3. Why is sound so important in animals such as the ones you heard in the game? 4. Why is using sound and hearing sometimes superior to using light and vision?

Guiding Questions 5. Why do you think animals use difference frequencies of sounds? 6. How do you think an animal uses sound waves to locate objects? 7. What other animals use sound waves to locate objects?

Video: “Dolphins and Echolocation” ggoU

Explore

App Download For the next activity, you will need a noisemaking device. Install a free noise-maker app on your smart device. The app should have standard sounds such as “clicks,” “pings,” “rings,” or “dings”

Active vs. Passive Acoustics Active Acoustics – a sound transmission is sent out and the echo or reflection of the sound off of an object is detected Passive Acoustics – simply listening without transmitting sound or using echoes

What type of acoustic detection were you using during the investigation? Passive Listening without transmitting

Challenge Prove or disprove that humans are capable of using echolocation (active acoustics) to navigate. You will have the following supplies to complete this challenge: –large, flat, smooth boards –noise makers –blindfold

Time’s Up Return to your seats and be prepared to discuss your findings.

Guiding Questions 8. Can and do humans use sound to make observations about location of objects around them? 9. How accurate are humans at using sound to echolocate? 10. What body system(s) is involved in echolocation?

Human Echolocation tu4ohttps:// tu4o

Homework: Video Review 11. Why do you think some visually impaired humans are extremely good at using echolocation?

Explain

Sonar vs Biosonar Sonar Originally an acronym SONAR which stood for SOund Navigation And Ranging It is a technique that utilizes sound waves as a tool for navigating, locating, and observing.

Sonar vs. Biosonar Biosonar Term used when animals utilize sound waves to observe and navigate their environment Often used interchangeably with the word echolocation Although echolocation is more specifically active biosonar

Let’s Fill in the Graphic Organizer

Biosonar ActivePassive

What have you learned?