Echo is what kind of sound wave

Generally the reflected sound is not distinctly heard, as it follows so closely behind the original sound and prolongs the sensation of the original sound. This effect is called reverberation. If the surface is rough, the incident sound waves are broken up and the original waveform is lost, thus no reflected sounds are heard. Principle of echo is used in echo sounder to find the depth of a sea or the location of shoals of fish. Echoes can be used to measure the speed of sound.

What's the difference between an echo and reverberation? Here's a quick explanation: An echo is a single reflection of a soundwave off a distance surface. Recent Posts. Get In Touch. Contact us: info sonic-shield. The sound then comes back to you in the form of an echo.

For a place to be able to produce echoes, it must have certain features. Secondly, the distance between the source of sound and the reflector should be at least 17 meters—about 66 feet so that the echo is heard distinctly after the original sound is over.

Lastly, the intensity or loudness of the sound has to be sufficient for the reflected sound reaching the ear to be audible. The original sound should be of short duration. How long between the time you make a noise and the time the echo occurs depends on how far away you are to the surface.

One could theoretically tell how far away an object is and how fast it is moving by an echo. This is called echolocation and bats use echoes to find moths while flying around at night. If they meet a soft surface, such as a cushion, they will be absorbed and will not bounce back. Hard, flat surfaces, like this wall, reflect sound very well.

The waves of vibration bounce off the wall and travel back towards the person who made the sound. Hard objects reflect sounds, but soft materials absorb sounds and silence them.