Radar vs Sonar: Difference and Comparison

For a country, its priority is its people; they have so many protection devices. Radar and Sonar are two of them. They both are made for security purposes only.

Radar uses radio signals to detect objects, and Sonar uses sound signals to recognise unwanted objects. The Radio waves used by Radar come from a range of electromagnetic radiations.

Key Takeaways

1. Radar and Sonar are both used for detecting and locating objects, but Radar uses radio waves while Sonar uses sound waves.
2. Radar is commonly used for tracking ships, aircraft, and weather patterns, while Sonar is used for underwater navigation and submarine communication.
3. Radar and Sonar have unique advantages and disadvantages, and their usage depends on the type of environment they are being used in and the intended purpose.

Radar vs Sonar

Radar uses radio waves to detect the location and speed of objects.  Radar systems can be used for a variety of purposes, such as detecting aircraft, ships, and weather patterns. Sonar uses sound waves to detect objects underwater. Sonar systems can be used for a variety of purposes, such as detecting underwater terrain, mapping the ocean floor, and locating submarines.

Radio Detection and Ranging device (Radar) helps us find or acknowledge the unwanted objects or bodies that may come between our paths and may be dangerous.

A sonar is a navigation and ranging device that uses sound waves or signals to recognise unwanted bodies or objects. It uses the to and fro technique for identifying objects, and Its range is somewhat less than Radar.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Radar	Sonar
Definition	Radar helps to find or acknowledge the unwanted objects or bodies that may come between our paths and may be dangerous.	Sonar is a navigation and ranging device that uses sound waves or signals to recognise unwanted bodies or objects.
Full forms	Radio detection and ranging device.	Sound ranging and navigation device.
Wave Type	For detection purposes, Radar uses radio waves.	For navigating purposes, Sonar uses sound waves.
Usually used	Radar is mostly used in space, spacecraft, aeroplanes, etc.	Sonar is mostly used underwater for communication purposes, ranging purposes, etc.
Frequencies	50-330MHz	100KHz-1Mhz
Maximum range	100-3500 Km	482 Km
Speed	More than Sonar.	Less than Radar.

What is Radar?

Radar’s radio detection and the ranging device is used to diagnose unwanted objects in a path. It is mainly used for security purposes in air forces and spacecraft to protect them from unwanted collisions by any entity.

A Radar has an antenna or feeler which transmits radio waves, and when those waves or signals collide with any object get rebounded or reflected, which acts as a warning signal indicating that there is some unwanted object which may cause harm to the body of the craft.

Radar harms mental ability, and it causes so much harm in high radio frequency. Because it has a larger wavelength, a clear image of the unwanted body is impossible to detect.

What is Sonar?

Sonar acts as a device used to find or recognise unwanted bodies under the water and sometimes in the air.

Sonar is referred to as a Sound ranging and navigation device, and as its name suggests, it uses sound signals or waves for navigation or detention purposes. Its ranging ability is less than Radar.

Sonar produces a sound like the bats do to find if someone is approaching their path. The US navy force did the first experiment with Sonar.

Main Differences Between Radar and Sonar

1. Sonar harms water animals and causes a defect, whereas Radar is not that harmful. Still, in high radio frequency, it also acts as a destructive device to mental ability.
2. Radar is used mainly because of its extensive coverage in air crafts, space surveillance, motor vehicles, etc.

References

1. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1988wi…book…..L/abstract
2. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-540-87662-5.pdf