Have you ever shouted into a canyon and heard your own voice return? That’s an echo, caused by sound waves bouncing off a surface and returning to the listener.
Sound travels in waves, and when those waves hit a solid object, they reflect back. If the object is far enough away, the delay between the original sound and its reflection creates an audible echo. This principle is why concert halls and cathedrals are designed with acoustics in mind—to either enhance or reduce echoes for clarity.
Some places, like the Hamilton Mausoleum in Scotland, have extraordinary echo effects, where a sound can reverberate for over 15 seconds! From sonar in submarines to bat echolocation, understanding echoes has led to remarkable advancements in technology and navigation.
