Echoes

An echo happens when sound bounces off something hard and comes back. You might hear echoes in a big empty room or near a mountain. The sound you make travels out as waves. When the waves hit a wall, they come right back to your ears.

How Echoes Work

Sound moves through the air in waves. When the waves hit a hard surface like rock, they bounce off. This is like throwing a ball at a wall and catching it again. If the wall is far away, it takes a little time for the sound to return. That is why you hear the echo a moment later.

Animals and Echoes

Some animals use echoes to find things in the dark. Bats make high squeaks and listen for the echoes to catch bugs. Dolphins do the same thing in the water to find fish. This skill is called echolocation. Submarines also use echoes to see what is under the sea.

Fun Facts

• The word 'echo' comes from a Greek story about a mountain nymph.
• A canyon can bounce your voice back many times.
• Echoes work best when the surface is hard and flat.

Did You Know?

Sound needs to travel at least 55 feet away and back for your ears to hear it as a real echo.