Could you measure the volume of a space using sonar, and by counting the echos?

Question

This is a Physics question.

Answer 1

Hi. Yes, in an atmosphere. There was a echo focused camera that took perfectly focused shots in pitch black darkness. (Great fun at parties!) Knowing the speed of the sound in the atmosphere you could measure the distance, shape, and angle of the containing walls and calculate the volume.

Answer 2

sure. You can even buy devices that do that at your local DIY store (the high-end ones will typically include a laser beam, plus a radio-wave based distance meter, plus a radio-wave based volume meter).

so it is not exactly sonar, because sonar uses sound, and these devices use EM waves. But the idea is the same.

Answer 3

you could measure the space using sonar, but you measure the time it takes for the sound wave to return to the source.