How Sonar Found Enemy Submarines

An illustrated inventions story from Wonder Inventions — free to read, with narration.

How Sonar Found Enemy Submarines — an illustrated inventions story, set in Global. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

How Sonar Found Enemy Submarines — book cover — Wonder Inventions
How Sonar Found Enemy Submarines — an illustrated inventions story, set in Global. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

Tao was helping his mom with the dishes after dinner. He glanced at the smartphone resting on the counter. "Mom, it's amazing how we can talk to anyone…
Tao was helping his mom with the dishes after dinner. He glanced at the smartphone resting on the counter. "Mom, it's amazing how we can talk to anyone, anywhere!" he exclaimed. "I wonder, how did they find things far away before all this technology?" Sora chuckled, "That's a good question, Tao! Let's see what the Invention Encyclopedia has to say."

Tao was helping his mom with the dishes after dinner. He glanced at the smartphone resting on the counter. "Mom, it's amazing how we can talk to anyone, anywhere!" he exclaimed. "I wonder, how did they find things far away before all this technology?" Sora chuckled, "That's a good question, Tao! Let's see what the Invention Encyclopedia has to say."

Page 2

Tao dashed to his room, the worn leather notebook tucked under his arm. He pulled the large, glowing Invention Encyclopedia from his bookshelf.
Tao dashed to his room, the worn leather notebook tucked under his arm. He pulled the large, glowing Invention Encyclopedia from his bookshelf. As he opened it, a swirl of light filled the room. "Here we go again!" he shouted, as everything dissolved into a vortex of swirling colors. He clutched the notebook tightly, preparing for another journey into the past.

Tao dashed to his room, the worn leather notebook tucked under his arm. He pulled the large, glowing Invention Encyclopedia from his bookshelf. As he opened it, a swirl of light filled the room. "Here we go again!" he shouted, as everything dissolved into a vortex of swirling colors. He clutched the notebook tightly, preparing for another journey into the past.

Page 3

Suddenly, he found himself on a windswept deck. Salt spray stung his face. An elderly woman with copper-red hair stood beside him, squinting at the grey ocean.
Suddenly, he found himself on a windswept deck. Salt spray stung his face. An elderly woman with copper-red hair stood beside him, squinting at the grey ocean. "Where are we, Jia?" Tao asked, wiping the water from his eyes. "Looks like 1917, my boy. The middle of World War One," she replied grimly. "As Winston Churchill said, 'The price of greatness is responsibility.' And right now, that means figuring out how to win this war."

Suddenly, he found himself on a windswept deck. Salt spray stung his face. An elderly woman with copper-red hair stood beside him, squinting at the grey ocean. "Where are we, Jia?" Tao asked, wiping the water from his eyes. "Looks like 1917, my boy. The middle of World War One," she replied grimly. "As Winston Churchill said, 'The price of greatness is responsibility.' And right now, that means figuring out how to win this war."

Page 4

"Submarines are attacking our ships, Tao!" Jia exclaimed, pointing to the churning sea. "They're almost impossible to detect when they're underwater." Just…
"Submarines are attacking our ships, Tao!" Jia exclaimed, pointing to the churning sea. "They're almost impossible to detect when they're underwater." Just then, a man in a naval uniform rushed up to them. "Mrs. Jia, we're trying everything we can! The Germans are sinking our supply ships faster than we can build them!" Jia held up her hand. "I think I might have something that will work," she said with a twinkle in her eye.

"Submarines are attacking our ships, Tao!" Jia exclaimed, pointing to the churning sea. "They're almost impossible to detect when they're underwater." Just then, a man in a naval uniform rushed up to them. "Mrs. Jia, we're trying everything we can! The Germans are sinking our supply ships faster than we can build them!" Jia held up her hand. "I think I might have something that will work," she said with a twinkle in her eye.

Page 5

Jia led them to a small, cluttered laboratory below deck. "This is where I'm working with Paul Langevin," she explained, gesturing to a man tinkering with wires…
Jia led them to a small, cluttered laboratory below deck. "This is where I'm working with Paul Langevin," she explained, gesturing to a man tinkering with wires and crystals. "We're trying to use sound to find the submarines." Paul looked up, wiping his brow. "It's proving quite difficult. The underwater environment is full of noise, and the sound waves behave unpredictably."

Jia led them to a small, cluttered laboratory below deck. "This is where I'm working with Paul Langevin," she explained, gesturing to a man tinkering with wires and crystals. "We're trying to use sound to find the submarines." Paul looked up, wiping his brow. "It's proving quite difficult. The underwater environment is full of noise, and the sound waves behave unpredictably."

Page 6

"It's based on piezoelectricity," Paul continued. "Certain crystals generate an electrical charge when you squeeze them.
"It's based on piezoelectricity," Paul continued. "Certain crystals generate an electrical charge when you squeeze them. And conversely, if you apply electricity to them, they vibrate and produce sound waves." Jia added, "We are sending sound pulses and listening for echoes. Like bats!" Tao's eyes lit up. "So, it's like shouting into a canyon and hearing the echo come back?" Paul grinned, "Exactly!

"It's based on piezoelectricity," Paul continued. "Certain crystals generate an electrical charge when you squeeze them. And conversely, if you apply electricity to them, they vibrate and produce sound waves." Jia added, "We are sending sound pulses and listening for echoes. Like bats!" Tao's eyes lit up. "So, it's like shouting into a canyon and hearing the echo come back?" Paul grinned, "Exactly! If we can measure the time it takes for the echo to return, we can calculate the distance to the submarine. By 1918, we have 200 ASW (anti-submarine warfare) vessels fitted with sonar. The impact saved thousands of lives and millions in dollars of supplies!"

Page 7

Tao scribbled furiously in his notebook. "But what if the water is too noisy?" he asked. "That's where the clever part comes in," Jia explained.
Tao scribbled furiously in his notebook. "But what if the water is too noisy?" he asked. "That's where the clever part comes in," Jia explained. "We use a specific frequency of sound that travels well underwater. Also, we focused the sound into a beam," Paul added. "This is like focusing a flashlight in the dark, helping us pinpoint the target."

Tao scribbled furiously in his notebook. "But what if the water is too noisy?" he asked. "That's where the clever part comes in," Jia explained. "We use a specific frequency of sound that travels well underwater. Also, we focused the sound into a beam," Paul added. "This is like focusing a flashlight in the dark, helping us pinpoint the target."

Page 8

Suddenly, the ship lurched violently! "We've been hit!" someone shouted. "Submarine attack!" Jia grabbed Tao's arm. "Quick, Tao!
Suddenly, the ship lurched violently! "We've been hit!" someone shouted. "Submarine attack!" Jia grabbed Tao's arm. "Quick, Tao! Remember what Paul said about focusing the sound? If we can direct the sonar beam precisely, we might be able to guide the destroyers!" Tao nodded, his eyes wide with determination. He knew that if they got the frequency right, it could save the ship.

Suddenly, the ship lurched violently! "We've been hit!" someone shouted. "Submarine attack!" Jia grabbed Tao's arm. "Quick, Tao! Remember what Paul said about focusing the sound? If we can direct the sonar beam precisely, we might be able to guide the destroyers!" Tao nodded, his eyes wide with determination. He knew that if they got the frequency right, it could save the ship.

Page 9

Tao raced back to the sonar equipment, Jia right behind him. He adjusted the dials carefully, remembering the specific frequency Paul had mentioned.
Tao raced back to the sonar equipment, Jia right behind him. He adjusted the dials carefully, remembering the specific frequency Paul had mentioned. The ship rocked again, throwing him against the wall. He muttered, "'Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.' Winston Churchill said that, and he was right!" He took a deep breath and made the final adjustment.

Tao raced back to the sonar equipment, Jia right behind him. He adjusted the dials carefully, remembering the specific frequency Paul had mentioned. The ship rocked again, throwing him against the wall. He muttered, "'Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.' Winston Churchill said that, and he was right!" He took a deep breath and made the final adjustment.

Page 10

Suddenly, the Encyclopedia reappeared. Tao and Jia were back in his bedroom. He slammed the book shut and raced downstairs. "Mom!
Suddenly, the Encyclopedia reappeared. Tao and Jia were back in his bedroom. He slammed the book shut and raced downstairs. "Mom! I know how they found submarines before! They used sonar!" he exclaimed. "It's amazing how they used sound to 'see' underwater! It helped to save so many lives!" Sora smiled. "That's incredible, Tao! So, next time you see a submarine movie, you'll know how it all works!"

Suddenly, the Encyclopedia reappeared. Tao and Jia were back in his bedroom. He slammed the book shut and raced downstairs. "Mom! I know how they found submarines before! They used sonar!" he exclaimed. "It's amazing how they used sound to 'see' underwater! It helped to save so many lives!" Sora smiled. "That's incredible, Tao! So, next time you see a submarine movie, you'll know how it all works!"

About this story

  • Location: Global
  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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