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SP4f Ultrasound notes

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8 views

SP4f Ultrasound notes

Uploaded by

fusedfour
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SP4f Ultrasound notes

Sounds higher than 20,00 Hz are called ultrasounds. Some animals, suchs as mice,
use ultrasound to communicate and others, like dolphins and bats, can use it to
detect objects around them. The ultrasound waves are reflected by the things around
them and the animals listen for the echo.

Sonars on boats and submarines use a similar method to detect the depth of the sea
or to detect fish:

A loudspeaker emits a pulse of ultrasound


This spreads out in the water and some of it is reflected by the sea bed
A special microphone on the ship detects the echo and measures the time between the
sound is sent and the echo is received

Equation for distance travelled by the sound: distance = speed x time

Ultrasound is also commonly used for fetus scans.

A gel is applied on the skins to make sure the skin is not reflected and to prevent
air space between the probe and skin.
A device called a transducer emits and receives ultrasound waves
Some sound is reflected when it passes into a new medium such as fat and bone
An ultrasound machine detects the time between sending the wave and receiving the
echo and the display shows where the echoes come from.
The further down the screen, the longer the echo took to get back to the machine

Q&A:

1 ans: Sounds with a frequency above 20,000 Hz


2 ans: As human ears can only hear sounds with a frequency of 20-20,000 Hz and
ultrasounds have frequencies above 20,000 Hz
3 ans: As the echoes of ultrasound waves can be used to form an image of a sea bed
without having to swim down to the sea bed whereas visible light cannot go past
150m depth and is absorbed by most solids unlike ultrasound
4a ans: 4500 meters
4b ans: 2250 meters
5 ans: As ultrasound can make images of soft tissues and fluids whereas visible
light is absorbed by the body

Exam style question:

As dolphins can detect objects around them using ultrasound. They emit a pulse of
ultrasound which is reflected by things around them and they listen for the echoes.
So they can find landmines without touching them.

E1:

A gel is applied on the stomach to prevent the skin being reflected and reduce air
space between the transducer and the skin. The transducer emits a pulse of
ultrasound which is reflected when it passes into a different medium such as bone
or fat and the transducer receives the echo. The ultrasound machine detects the
time between sending the pulse and receiving the echo. The display shows where the
image comes from. The further down the screen the longer the echo took to get back
to the machine.

Extra points:
Short wavelength of ultrasound allows it to be focused into a beam
It is reflected by denser materials like bone and transmitted through soft tissue
Once it is within the water, light may be scattered or absorbed by solid particles.
Most of the visible light spectrum is absorbed within 10 meters (33 feet) of the
water's surface, and almost none penetrates below 150 meters (490 feet) of water
depth, even when the water is very clear

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