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Ultrasound

Ultrasound is ultra high frequency sound waves which are beyond the upper threshold of hearing for humans which is a frequency of 20 000 Hz.

Ultra sound is partially relected when it meets a  boundary between two different materials (or material of different densities).

This is used in medical applications like;

  • prenatal scanning
  • imaging ligaments, muscles & kidneys
  • the removal of kidney stones

The time taken for reflections to reach the ultrasound detector can be used to determine how far away the boundary is.

      distance       =                         speed                     x             time

(metres, m)           (metres per second, m/s)              ( seconds, s)