To determine the rate of approach, a bat or dolphin must compute ______.
A)the relative size of the object in comparison to the size of the bat or dolphin
B)the target range of the bat or dolphin itself
C)the difference in frequency between the outgoing call and the incoming echo
D)the length of the incoming echo

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To determine the rate of approach, a bat or dolphin must compute the difference in frequency between the outgoing call and the incoming echo, known as the Doppler effect. As the object approaches, the frequency of the echo increases, and the bat or dolphin can use this change in frequency to calculate the rate of approach. The relative size of the object and the target range may also be taken into account, but they are not the main factors used to determine the rate of approach. The length of the incoming echo is not relevant to the calculation.

To Determine the Rate of Approach, a Bat or Dolphin