ARDMS Sonography Practice Exam
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. Which type of wave is used in diagnostic medical ultrasound?
A. Electromagnetic wave
B. Mechanical longitudinal wave
C. Transverse electromagnetic wave
D. Radioactive wave
Rationale: Diagnostic ultrasound requires a mechanical wave that
propagates through a medium.
2. What is the approximate speed of sound in soft tissue?
A. 330 m/s
B. 1,000 m/s
C. 1,540 m/s
D. 3,000 m/s
Rationale: Ultrasound systems generally assume an average soft-tissue
propagation speed of 1,540 m/s.
3. Frequency is measured in which unit?
A. Decibels
B. Watts
C. Hertz
D. Megahertz
Rationale: Frequency represents cycles per second and is measured in
hertz; diagnostic frequencies are commonly expressed in megahertz.
, 4. Which frequency generally provides better axial resolution?
A. Lower frequency
B. Higher frequency
C. Zero frequency
D. Variable frequency only
Rationale: Higher frequency produces shorter wavelengths, improving
axial resolution.
5. What is wavelength calculated as?
A. Frequency × velocity
B. Velocity ÷ frequency
C. Frequency ÷ velocity
D. Period × frequency
Rationale: Wavelength equals propagation speed divided by frequency.
6. Which factor determines the maximum imaging depth before
pulse-echo ambiguity occurs?
A. Duty factor
B. Pulse repetition period
C. Transducer diameter
D. Acoustic impedance only
Rationale: The pulse repetition period must allow sufficient time for
echoes to return from the deepest structures.
7. What happens to wavelength when frequency increases while
propagation speed remains constant?
A. It increases
B. It decreases
C. It remains unchanged
D. It becomes zero
,Rationale: Wavelength is inversely related to frequency when
propagation speed is constant.
8. Which component converts electrical energy into mechanical
sound energy?
A. Receiver
B. Display
C. Piezoelectric element
D. TGC control
Rationale: Piezoelectric crystals convert electrical energy to ultrasound
and returning mechanical energy back to electrical signals.
9. What is acoustic impedance calculated from?
A. Frequency × wavelength
B. Density × propagation speed
C. Intensity ÷ frequency
D. Power × area
Rationale: Acoustic impedance is the product of tissue density and
sound propagation speed.
10. A large difference in acoustic impedance between two
tissues produces what?
A. Less reflection
B. Greater reflection
C. No attenuation
D. Increased frequency
Rationale: Reflection increases as the acoustic impedance mismatch
between tissues increases.
11. Which interaction occurs when sound changes direction as it
enters tissue at an oblique angle?
A. Reflection
, B. Absorption
C. Refraction
D. Scattering
Rationale: Refraction is bending of the ultrasound beam caused by a
change in propagation speed.
12. What is attenuation primarily caused by?
A. Reflection only
B. Absorption, scattering, and reflection
C. Refraction only
D. Focusing only
Rationale: Attenuation represents the progressive loss of ultrasound
intensity as it travels through tissue.
13. Which interaction converts ultrasound energy into heat?
A. Reflection
B. Refraction
C. Scattering
D. Absorption
Rationale: Absorption converts acoustic energy into thermal energy.
14. Increasing imaging depth generally requires the sonographer
to adjust which control?
A. Dynamic range only
B. Overall gain and/or TGC
C. Frequency upward only
D. Color map only
Rationale: Deeper echoes undergo more attenuation and may require
appropriate gain compensation.
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. Which type of wave is used in diagnostic medical ultrasound?
A. Electromagnetic wave
B. Mechanical longitudinal wave
C. Transverse electromagnetic wave
D. Radioactive wave
Rationale: Diagnostic ultrasound requires a mechanical wave that
propagates through a medium.
2. What is the approximate speed of sound in soft tissue?
A. 330 m/s
B. 1,000 m/s
C. 1,540 m/s
D. 3,000 m/s
Rationale: Ultrasound systems generally assume an average soft-tissue
propagation speed of 1,540 m/s.
3. Frequency is measured in which unit?
A. Decibels
B. Watts
C. Hertz
D. Megahertz
Rationale: Frequency represents cycles per second and is measured in
hertz; diagnostic frequencies are commonly expressed in megahertz.
, 4. Which frequency generally provides better axial resolution?
A. Lower frequency
B. Higher frequency
C. Zero frequency
D. Variable frequency only
Rationale: Higher frequency produces shorter wavelengths, improving
axial resolution.
5. What is wavelength calculated as?
A. Frequency × velocity
B. Velocity ÷ frequency
C. Frequency ÷ velocity
D. Period × frequency
Rationale: Wavelength equals propagation speed divided by frequency.
6. Which factor determines the maximum imaging depth before
pulse-echo ambiguity occurs?
A. Duty factor
B. Pulse repetition period
C. Transducer diameter
D. Acoustic impedance only
Rationale: The pulse repetition period must allow sufficient time for
echoes to return from the deepest structures.
7. What happens to wavelength when frequency increases while
propagation speed remains constant?
A. It increases
B. It decreases
C. It remains unchanged
D. It becomes zero
,Rationale: Wavelength is inversely related to frequency when
propagation speed is constant.
8. Which component converts electrical energy into mechanical
sound energy?
A. Receiver
B. Display
C. Piezoelectric element
D. TGC control
Rationale: Piezoelectric crystals convert electrical energy to ultrasound
and returning mechanical energy back to electrical signals.
9. What is acoustic impedance calculated from?
A. Frequency × wavelength
B. Density × propagation speed
C. Intensity ÷ frequency
D. Power × area
Rationale: Acoustic impedance is the product of tissue density and
sound propagation speed.
10. A large difference in acoustic impedance between two
tissues produces what?
A. Less reflection
B. Greater reflection
C. No attenuation
D. Increased frequency
Rationale: Reflection increases as the acoustic impedance mismatch
between tissues increases.
11. Which interaction occurs when sound changes direction as it
enters tissue at an oblique angle?
A. Reflection
, B. Absorption
C. Refraction
D. Scattering
Rationale: Refraction is bending of the ultrasound beam caused by a
change in propagation speed.
12. What is attenuation primarily caused by?
A. Reflection only
B. Absorption, scattering, and reflection
C. Refraction only
D. Focusing only
Rationale: Attenuation represents the progressive loss of ultrasound
intensity as it travels through tissue.
13. Which interaction converts ultrasound energy into heat?
A. Reflection
B. Refraction
C. Scattering
D. Absorption
Rationale: Absorption converts acoustic energy into thermal energy.
14. Increasing imaging depth generally requires the sonographer
to adjust which control?
A. Dynamic range only
B. Overall gain and/or TGC
C. Frequency upward only
D. Color map only
Rationale: Deeper echoes undergo more attenuation and may require
appropriate gain compensation.
