Cobra Electronics MF 2500 - Manual (Page 7)

6 Owner's Manual
Overview
1.2. OVERVIEW
The Fish Finder consists of a high power transmitter, sensitive receiver and a
transducer. The Fish Finder sends an electrical pulse to the transducer which
contains an element that converts the pulse into acoustic (sound) wave which
is sent through the water. As this wave travels from the transducer to the
bottom, it may strike fish, structures, thermoclines (temperature changes in
the water, etc.). When the wave strikes an object(s) a certain amount of the
wave is reflected back to the transducer depending on the composition and
shape of the object. When the reflected wave is returned to the transducer it is
converted into an voltage and is amplified by the receiver, processed and sent
to the display. The speed of sound in water is roughly 4800 ft./sec, so the
time lapse between the transmitted signal and the received echo can be
measured and the distance to the object determined.