Key Terms Flashcards
Absorption
Conversion of sound to heat
Acoustic
Having to do with sound
Acoustic Variables
Pressure, density, and particle vibrations
Amplitude
Maximum variation of an acoustic variable or voltage
Attenuation
Decrease in amplitude and intensity with distance as a wave travels through a medium
Attenuation Coefficient
Attenuation per centimeter of wave travel
Backscatter
Sound scattered back in the direction from which it originally came
Bandwidth
Range of frequencies contained in an ultrasound pulse
Compression
Reduction in differences between small and large amplitudes
Constructive Interference
Combination of positive or negative pressures
Continuous Wave
A wave in which cycles repeat indefinitely
Contrast Agent
A suspension of bubbles or particles introduced into circulation to enhance the contrast between anatomic structures, thereby improving their imaging
Coupling Medium
A gel used to provide a good sound path between a transducer and the skin by eliminating the air between the two
Cycle
One complete variation of an acoustic variable
Decibel
Unit of power or intensity ratio
Density
Mass divided by volume
Destructive Interference
Combination of positive and negative pressures
Duty Factor
Fraction of time that pulsed ultrasound is on
Echo
Reflection
Energy
Capability of doing work
Fractional Bandwidth
Bandwidth divided by operating frequency
Frequency
Number of cycles per second
Fundamental Frequency
The primary frequency in a collection of frequencies that can include odd and even harmonics and subharmonics
Harmonics
Frequencies that are even and odd multiples of another
Hertz
Unit of frequency
Impedance
Density multiplied by the sound propagation speed
Incidence Angle
Angle between incident sound direction and a line perpendicular to the boundary of a medium
Intensity
Power divided by area