Sonography uses what type of waves?

Sonography uses what type of waves?

• A. Ionizing radiation
• B. Visible light
• C. Gamma rays
• D. Non-ionizing, high frequency sound waves

Answer: (D)

Sonography uses non-ionizing, high-frequency sound waves. These are mechanical waves, not electromagnetic ones, so they do not have enough energy to ionize atoms, unlike ionizing radiation such as X-rays or gamma rays and unlike visible light. The transducer emits these ultrasound waves into the body and then receives the echoes that bounce back from tissues; the time it takes for echoes to return and their strength create the image. Higher frequencies provide better image detail but don’t penetrate as deeply, while lower frequencies penetrate deeper with less detail, which is why different probes are chosen for different depths. The waves need a medium to travel through, which is why a coupling gel is used to improve transmission.

Sonography uses non-ionizing, high-frequency sound waves. These are mechanical waves, not electromagnetic ones, so they do not have enough energy to ionize atoms, unlike ionizing radiation such as X-rays or gamma rays and unlike visible light. The transducer emits these ultrasound waves into the body and then receives the echoes that bounce back from tissues; the time it takes for echoes to return and their strength create the image. Higher frequencies provide better image detail but don’t penetrate as deeply, while lower frequencies penetrate deeper with less detail, which is why different probes are chosen for different depths. The waves need a medium to travel through, which is why a coupling gel is used to improve transmission.