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24.1 Production & Use of Ultrasound

Question Paper

Course CIE A Level Physics

Section 24. Medical Physics
Topic 24.1 Production & Use of Ultrasound
Difficulty Easy

Time Allowed 40
Score /33
Percentage /100

Page 1 of 7

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Question 1a
State what is meant by the specific acoustic impedance of a medium.
[2 marks]

Question 1b
Table 1.1 shows the density and speed of ultrasound in soft tissue and air.
Table 1.1

density / kg m−3 speed of ultrasound / m s−1

air 1.29 330
soft tissue 1060 1540
bone 1600 4000

Using the data in Table 1.1, calculate the acoustic impedance of

(i) air
[1]
(ii) soft tissue
[1]
(iii) bone.
[1]
[3 marks]

Page 2 of 7

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Question 1c
The intensity reflection coefficient α for two media is given by

2
(Z 1 − Z 2)
α= 2
(Z 1 + Z 2)
Where Z1 and Z2 are the specific acoustic impedances of the two media.

Explain how this equation can be used to predict the reflection or transmission of ultrasound at the boundary between two materials.

[3 marks]

Question 1d
State what is meant by impedance matching and explain how it may be achieved.
[2 marks]

Page 3 of 7

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Question 2a
Fig. 1.1 shows an incomplete diagram of a piezoelectric transducer.

Fig. 1.1
Fill in the three missing labels on Fig. 1.1.
[3 marks]

Question 2b
State the purpose of the components in (a) in relation to the generation of ultrasound waves.
[3 marks]

Page 4 of 7

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Question 2c
State
(i) two main pieces of information about internal body structures that ultrasound can provide.
[2]
(ii) the properties of the ultrasound signal that provide these pieces of information.
[2]
[4 marks]

Question 2d
Piezoelectric crystals have many applications other than in ultrasound scanners.
Describe the piezoelectric effect in terms of the energy transfers taking place when:
(i) a gas lighter ignites a flame using a small spark,
[1]
(ii) a motion sensor uses ultrasound waves to signal an automatic door to open,
[1]
(iii) an inkjet printer ejects ink from nozzles onto a sheet of paper,
[1]
(iv) a hearing aid receives and amplifies sound into a person's ear.
[2]
[5 marks]

Page 5 of 7

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Question 3a
Quartz crystals are commonly used in ultrasound transducers.
The speed of sound in quartz is 5700 m s−1.
Calculate the wavelength of ultrasound waves of frequency 7 MHz in a quartz crystal.
[2 marks]

Question 3b
To use a quartz crystal in an ultrasound transducer, its thickness must be at least half the wavelength of the incoming
waves.
Calculate the thickness of the transducer.
[1 mark]

Question 3c
In medical ultrasound scanning, a transducer generates high-frequency ultrasound waves and directs them into the body.
The transducer doubles as a detector as different percentages of ultrasound are reflected by the boundaries of internal
tissues and return to the transducer. This enables an image of internal structures to be built up.
(i) State the wave effect that limits the resolution of an ultrasound image.
[1]

(ii) Explain why high-frequency ultrasound waves must be used in medical scanning.
[2]
[3 marks]

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Question 3d
The approximate speed of sound in human tissue is about 1540 m s−1.
Ultrasound waves of frequency 7 MHz are used in an abdominal scan.
Estimate the smallest size of the tissue that would be observable on the ultrasound image.
[2 marks]

Page 7 of 7

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