Sonar stands for which of the following?

• A. Sound, Navigation, and Routing
• B. Sound, Navigation, and Reading
• C. Sound, Navigation, and Ranging
• D. Speed, Navigation, and Ranging

Answer: (C)

Sonar stands for Sound Navigation and Ranging. “Sound” refers to the acoustic waves the system uses, emitted into the water. “Navigation” describes using the information from those waves to determine position or movement relative to objects, helping guide and orient a vessel or sensor. “Ranging” is about measuring distance to a target by calculating how long the sound takes to travel to the target and back as an echo. Together, this acronym captures the core function of sonar: emit sound, listen for echoes, and derive location and distance information from them. The other options replace a key term with Routing, Reading, or Speed, which don’t reflect how sonar operates, whereas Ranging accurately describes the distance-measuring aspect.