Ultrasound
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Ultrasound is sound that has a frequency higher than 20,000Hz.
About Ultrasound
- Ultrasound is too high pitched for a human to hear.
Applications
- Cleaning - Ultrasound can be used to clean dirt from surfaces. The vibrations can create small bubbles in a water which work their way into cracks push the dirt out.
- Physiotherapy - The vibration from ultrasound can be used to massage parts of the body which can stimulate healing and repair.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Ultrasound is sound that has a frequency higher than 20,000Hz.
About Ultrasound
- Ultrasound is any sound which is too high pitched to hear. Since the lowest frequency a human can hear 20,000Hz, then ultrasound is any sound above that.
Applications
Ultrasound Imaging
- Ultrasound can be reflected, refracted or absorbed at the interface between different media. This can be used, along with a computer, to create images of the internal structure of an object. This is particularly useful for opaque object.
- Ultrasound is generally used to detect cracks in large metal structures.
- Ultrasound is used in hospitals to create images of organs and of the foetus of pregnant females.
References
AQA
- Ultrasound, page 89, 90, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Ultrasound, pages 190, 199, 208-9, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Ultrasound, pages 191-2, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Ultrasound, pages 282, 283, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Ultrasound, page 36, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Ultrasound, pages 106-108, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Ultrasound, pages 60-61, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel