Question 883Navigation General

The correct answer is A) 824 fathoms. The reasoning is as follows: In a fathometer, the time it takes for the sound signal to travel from the oscillator, reflect off the sea floor, and return to the receiver is used to calculate the depth of the water. Since sound travels at a speed of approximately 4,800 feet per second in seawater, and the time elapsed between the emission and reception of the signal is 2 seconds, the depth of the water is calculated as 4,800 feet/second x 2 seconds / 2 = 4,800 feet, which is equivalent to 824 fathoms (1 fathom = 6 feet). The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the depth of the water based on the given time elapsed of 2 seconds.