Question

ILL GIVE MEDALS !!!!
In the past, ships often carried small cannons that were used when approaching shore in dense fog to estimate the distance to the hidden land. Explain how this might have been done.

Answer 1

@Compassionate

Answer 2

@darkasnight

Answer 3

@historygeek96

Answer 4

I really do not know but i found this : http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120619210814AArLvGy

Answer 5

Thank you (:

Answer 6

@ashikothari
This is the same principle as the question I just answered for you about the shoal of fish.

It is about echoes, and the speed of sound.

The fish question involved speed of sound in water. This one is speed of sound in air.
A cannon shot will echo off the land and the ship can count how long that takes.....