Ultrasound Physics

This simulation demonstrates how medical ultrasound scanners use high-frequency sound waves to detect tumors in tissue.

Wavelength (λ) = Speed of Sound (v) / Frequency (f)

Problem Solution:

1. Given: v = 1.7 km/s = 1.7 × 10³ m/s, f = 4.2 MHz = 4.2 × 10⁶ Hz
2. Wavelength calculation: λ = v/f = (1.7 × 10³)/(4.2 × 10⁶) = 4.1 × 10⁻⁴ m
3. Result: λ ≈ 0.41 mm (wavelength in tissue)

Key Principles:

• Ultrasound waves reflect differently from healthy tissue vs. tumors
• Higher frequencies provide better resolution but penetrate less deeply
• The speed of sound varies in different tissues (average ~1.54 km/s in soft tissue)