How do submarines communicate underwater?
Quick Answer
Submarines communicate underwater mainly using sound. They can send sonar-like signals or use special low-frequency radio waves that travel farther through water than regular radio does.
Why This Story Works for Bedtime
It’s quiet ‘underwater listening’ science—sound waves and careful communication, told gently without military intensity.
Story at a Glance
RECOMMENDED AGES
9-11 years
READING TIME
3 min
Story Synopsis
Underwater, regular radio signals don’t travel very far. This story explains how submarines communicate. Miluna shares that water carries sound well, so submarines can use sound-based methods and careful listening. For longer distances, some systems use very low-frequency radio waves, which can travel deeper through water than higher-frequency waves. The tone stays calm and technical-but-friendly, focusing on physics rather than conflict. Curiosity stories like this show children how engineers solve real-world problems with gentle, logical thinking.
Story Excerpt
Have you ever wondered how a submarine deep beneath the ocean waves can talk to the world above It’s a tricky question because the very thing that hides a submarine the water also makes communication difficult Normal radio waves like the ones our phones and radios use can’t travel very far through water The water is so dense that it absorbs them almost like a thick blanket muffling a sound So submarines use a few clever methods One of the most important ways they communicate is…
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In One Glance
Water blocks most radio waves, especially at higher frequencies, so underwater communication is challenging. Sound travels efficiently in water, so submarines rely on acoustic methods and sonar-like signaling for some communication and detection. For long-range messaging, navies use extremely/very low frequency radio signals that can penetrate seawater, though with limited data rates. The story explains this as a calm engineering solution and focuses on waves and problem-solving.
Frequently Asked Questions
It explains why radio doesn’t travel well in water and how sound and very low-frequency radio can help.
Ages 9–11.
Yes—focuses on waves and engineering, not conflict.
No. It stays gentle and science-focused.
It builds physics and engineering vocabulary and encourages problem-solving through reading.