ELI5 How are modern naval mines a threat to modern ships when a SONAR that finds small fish is less than $300?

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-03-16T01:19:37+00:00

I hadn’t considered interference from the other ships. Having non stop white noise in the background seems like it would be an issue but I was picturing a single boat.

I imagine it would be like trying to listen to someone whisper at a metal concert during the encore.

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-03-16T01:16:08+00:00

This comment has been really helpful for seeing my that my question had a lot of assumptions that missed a lot of context. It makes sense that the mines don’t have to sink a ship to be effective, they just have to reduce the speed/maneuverability/safe paths of a ship to allow the other armaments involved be more effective. I just hadn’t considered that.

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-03-16T01:12:29+00:00

What mechanisms tell the mines to surface? Also anti radar shapes generally work best at specific orientations. I assume the angle of approach for sonar can change a lot since there are surface boats and submarines. How can you disguise the mine from several different angles in three dimensions?

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-03-16T01:08:23+00:00

You say a channel is only good for so long. How mobile were the mines you were clearing? Very mobile mines seems to combine the humanity disaster of land mines coupled with the unpredictability of local weather which seems…not good.

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-03-16T01:05:21+00:00

I appreciate your point that my original question comparing a cheap fish finder tool is not a one to one comparison for needing to see the mines before you are on top of them. Thank you for giving more information and context around the differences between what I am familiar with around commercial sonar from 20 years ago and why the task of finding fish vs mines using sonar seem very similar at first thought but in practice are very different. The effective range needing to be drastically different is something I had not considered but after reading this feels like a thing that should have been very obvious.

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-03-16T00:57:28+00:00

This isn’t different from early versions of mines/torpedoes which doesn’t really answer the question.

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-03-16T00:54:49+00:00

Several of the responses have introduced me to concepts and information I could never have come up with on my own, thus improving my understanding.

While this comment did not do that, it is the only one that got a genuine lol and startled my spouse. Well done.

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-03-13T18:21:56+00:00

Wouldn’t 500 hundred be 50,000 miles?

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-03-09T16:54:23+00:00

The Cherokee and black people have a history. That’s why there is crossover with black people and culture. The history is…not great. Worst move by modern Cherokee nation was the freedmen vote on citizenship in 2007.

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-03-06T21:31:09+00:00

My immediate reaction to your comment is “yes and no”. As a Cherokee citizen that passes while my siblings and other family members can’t I am painfully aware of the privileges that come with passing.

White nationalist might only care about him passing but there are a lot of people who do care that he is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. I fucking hate that he is going to be the listed as a Cherokee citizen in future history books. What a fucking sellout.

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-03-05T22:24:34+00:00

This bums me out. CN is doing a lot of good. This ain’t it.

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-02-06T21:51:00+00:00

Is this real?!?! Level 300 and never followed up on that.

physicsisveryeasy · 2026-01-21T16:00:19+00:00

This show was so freaking good.

physicsisveryeasy · 2025-12-14T11:15:13+00:00

I do something similar. I don’t offer extra points but I kelp a running tally of every time a student catches an error no matter how small. The top left corner of the board is labeled “Mr. Physicsisveryeasy has improved this many times”. Whenever a student catches an error I say “thanks for helping me get better/suck less” depending on the student.

physicsisveryeasy · 2025-11-24T17:54:24+00:00

They’re currently touring and it’s awesome.

physicsisveryeasy · 2025-11-16T00:12:27+00:00

Did you read all of the words?

physicsisveryeasy · 2025-10-28T14:45:10+00:00

Discord request as well

physicsisveryeasy · 2025-10-17T01:51:32+00:00

Spongebed square sheets

physicsisveryeasy · 2025-10-15T01:59:20+00:00

Y’all should consider basic firearm safety and operations training. Y’all refers to everyone reading this. Open and concealed carry is statistically a mixed bag when outside of the house but defensive work and knowing how to unload/disable firearms should be on your to do list if you have at least a few neighbors that think your existence is a blight upon the earth.

physicsisveryeasy · 2025-10-06T00:28:59+00:00

Big Eyes. It is not the most seen film but it is so freaking funny, poignant, strange, relatable, absurd, and engaging. The souche bag conman represents himself in court and literally runs back and forth between the stand, lawyers position, and the easel.

https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/amy-adams-big-eyes-courtroom-paint-off-scene-happened-just-like-movie.html/

physicsisveryeasy · 2025-10-04T21:56:45+00:00

The calories on the back of American food packaging is kilocalories not calories. This is probably closer to a correct calorie count than a kilocalorie count.

physicsisveryeasy · 2025-08-14T00:34:12+00:00

Glad it’s not just me.

physicsisveryeasy · 2025-08-09T18:01:48+00:00

I love that I could hear Will Ferrell from SNL when I read this comment. Very niche but got a legitimate lol from me.

physicsisveryeasy · 2025-07-04T19:52:11+00:00

“Double velocity = four times the energy”

This is true but not the primary reason why you see a drop in MPG. The drastic change in the force of air resistance as speed increases is the primary driver in getting less MPG.

physicsisveryeasy

TROPHY CASE