Question

Explain how echoes are used by bats to judge the distance of an obstacle in front of them.

Answer 1

Bats search out prey and fly in dark night by emitting and detecting reflections of ultrasonic waves. The high pitched ultrasonic squeaks of the bat are reflected from the obstacles ( prey ) and returned to bat's ear. The nature of reflections tells the bat where the obstacle (prey) is and what it is like. Porpoises also use ultrasound for navigation and location of food in the dark.