Hydrophone vs. Sonar

Hydrophonenoun

a transducer that converts underwater sound waves into electrical signals, rather like a microphone

Hydrophone

A hydrophone (Ancient Greek: ὕδωρ + φωνή, lit. 'water + sound') is a microphone designed to be used underwater for recording or listening to underwater sound. Most hydrophones are based on a piezoelectric transducer that generates an electric potential when subjected to a pressure change, such as a sound wave.

Sonarnoun

(nautical) echolocation

Sonarnoun

(nautical) A device that uses hydrophones (in the same manner as radar) to locate objects underwater.

Sonarnoun

a measuring instrument that sends out an acoustic pulse in water and measures distances in terms of the time for the echo of the pulse to return; sonar is an acronym for sound navigation ranging; asdic is an acronym for anti-submarine detection investigation committee

Sonar

Sonar (sound navigation and ranging) is a technique that uses sound propagation (usually underwater, as in submarine navigation) to navigate, communicate with or detect objects on or under the surface of the water, such as other vessels. Two types of technology share the name : passive sonar is essentially listening for the sound made by vessels; active sonar is emitting pulses of sounds and listening for echoes.