Sound Waves and Acoustic Properties

These flashcards cover the key concepts in sound wave propagation, acoustic properties, interference patterns, and wave characteristics as discussed in the lecture notes.

What is the process by which sound pulses created by a transducer travel through biological tissue?

The sound pulses travel through a medium, and reflections from boundaries return to the transducer for image processing.

What are acoustic propagation properties?

The effects of the medium upon sound waves.

What are biological effects in the context of diagnostic sonography?

The effects of sound waves upon biological tissue.

How do sound waves travel?

Sound waves travel in a straight line through a medium, not in a vacuum.

What are compressions in sound waves?

Areas of increased pressure and density.

What are rarefactions in sound waves?

Areas of decreased pressure and density.

What type of waves are sound waves classified as?

Sound waves are classified as longitudinal waves.

What describes a longitudinal wave?

Particles move in the same direction that the wave propagates.

What are the three acoustic variables that identify sound waves?

Pressure, density, and distance.

What unit of pressure is used in acoustic variables?

Pascal (Pa).

What are the seven acoustic parameters used to describe sound waves?

Period, frequency, amplitude, power, intensity, wavelength, and propagation speed.

What is constructive interference?

When in-phase waves combine to form a single wave with increased amplitude.

What is destructive interference?

When out-of-phase waves combine, they may cancel each other out.

What occurs when more than one sound beam arrives at the same location at the same time?

This phenomenon is called interference.

What characterizes in-phase waves?

Their peaks occur at the same time and the same location.

What characterizes out-of-phase waves?

Their peaks occur at different times.