Davies Ultrasound Physics Review
Exam Question & Answers ( Update
2025 )
1. What action would be most in keeping w the ALARA
principle while performing a diagnostic ultrasound exam?
- CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Complete the
diagnostic scan in a timely fashion at the lowest output
power that achieves a quality image
Advocating use of the ALARA principle (as low as
reasonably achievable) prudently minimizes the risk of
bio effects (even tho epidemiological studies have
revealed no known risk associated with the use of
diagnostic ultrasound).
2. During performance of an obstetric ultrasound exam,
you adjust the system parameters to improve the image.
Which of the following parameters would increase
acoustic exposure? - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔Increase transmit power.
The transmit power is the only control listed that will
affect the exposure of the patient to acoustic power. Gain,
TGC, and frame averaging (persistence) do not affect
sound transmission and therefore do not affect exposure.
Increasing frequency will not increase exposure.
,Davies Ultrasound Physics Review
Exam Question & Answers ( Update
2025 )
3. To minimize the risk of biologic effects of ultrasound to
the fetus, which imaging mode tradeoff would be most
applicable? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Use M-mode
instead of pulsed-wave Doppler to measure the fetal
heart rate.
Pulsed wave Doppler increases the time average intensity
compared to M-mode.
4. What potential bioeffect occurs through absorption of
sound energy by tissue? - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔Heating
Sound attenuation in tissue is primarily due to absorption
(conversion of ultrasound to heat).
5. When practicing universal precautions, you should do
all the following EXCEPT: - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔Wash gloves between exams for reuse from one
patient to another. (It is recommended that gloves be
worn during every ultrasound examination. They should
be discarded after use).
,Davies Ultrasound Physics Review
Exam Question & Answers ( Update
2025 )
-wear gloves when there is a potential for contract with
patient body fluid
-change gloves when moving from one patient to another
-Wash hands immediately after gloves are removed
- Wear face masks or eye protection whenever there is a
possibility of blood splashing in your face
6. A nosocomial infection is defined as one that: -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Is hospital-acquired
7. Thermally induced biologic effects should be
preventable by avoiding a local tissue temperature
increase exceeding: - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔1°C
8. Which intensity descriptor has the lowest numeric
value for the characterization of a pulsed-wave ultrasonic
field? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔SATA
SATA, a term that is infrequently used, means spatial
average, time average. Note: I(SPTA) is the spatial peak,
time average intensity; I(SPTP) is the spatial peak,
temporal peak.
, Davies Ultrasound Physics Review
Exam Question & Answers ( Update
2025 )
9* Increased tissue heating could occur when you: -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Increase transmit power
A study designed to determine if there is an association
between an adverse effect in a population and exposure
to a particular agent is an: - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔Epidemiological study
Which of the following actions is NOT compliant w HIPPA?
- CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Reviewing your
neighbors medical studies on your hospital PACS system
so you can give her your opinion of her condition
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPPA) includes rules to protect the privacy of the
individuals health information. This answer would violate
HIPPA
What does the mechanical index indicate on an
ultrasound system? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔The
likelihood of cavitation during an ultrasound exam
Exam Question & Answers ( Update
2025 )
1. What action would be most in keeping w the ALARA
principle while performing a diagnostic ultrasound exam?
- CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Complete the
diagnostic scan in a timely fashion at the lowest output
power that achieves a quality image
Advocating use of the ALARA principle (as low as
reasonably achievable) prudently minimizes the risk of
bio effects (even tho epidemiological studies have
revealed no known risk associated with the use of
diagnostic ultrasound).
2. During performance of an obstetric ultrasound exam,
you adjust the system parameters to improve the image.
Which of the following parameters would increase
acoustic exposure? - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔Increase transmit power.
The transmit power is the only control listed that will
affect the exposure of the patient to acoustic power. Gain,
TGC, and frame averaging (persistence) do not affect
sound transmission and therefore do not affect exposure.
Increasing frequency will not increase exposure.
,Davies Ultrasound Physics Review
Exam Question & Answers ( Update
2025 )
3. To minimize the risk of biologic effects of ultrasound to
the fetus, which imaging mode tradeoff would be most
applicable? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Use M-mode
instead of pulsed-wave Doppler to measure the fetal
heart rate.
Pulsed wave Doppler increases the time average intensity
compared to M-mode.
4. What potential bioeffect occurs through absorption of
sound energy by tissue? - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔Heating
Sound attenuation in tissue is primarily due to absorption
(conversion of ultrasound to heat).
5. When practicing universal precautions, you should do
all the following EXCEPT: - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔Wash gloves between exams for reuse from one
patient to another. (It is recommended that gloves be
worn during every ultrasound examination. They should
be discarded after use).
,Davies Ultrasound Physics Review
Exam Question & Answers ( Update
2025 )
-wear gloves when there is a potential for contract with
patient body fluid
-change gloves when moving from one patient to another
-Wash hands immediately after gloves are removed
- Wear face masks or eye protection whenever there is a
possibility of blood splashing in your face
6. A nosocomial infection is defined as one that: -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Is hospital-acquired
7. Thermally induced biologic effects should be
preventable by avoiding a local tissue temperature
increase exceeding: - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔1°C
8. Which intensity descriptor has the lowest numeric
value for the characterization of a pulsed-wave ultrasonic
field? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔SATA
SATA, a term that is infrequently used, means spatial
average, time average. Note: I(SPTA) is the spatial peak,
time average intensity; I(SPTP) is the spatial peak,
temporal peak.
, Davies Ultrasound Physics Review
Exam Question & Answers ( Update
2025 )
9* Increased tissue heating could occur when you: -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Increase transmit power
A study designed to determine if there is an association
between an adverse effect in a population and exposure
to a particular agent is an: - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔Epidemiological study
Which of the following actions is NOT compliant w HIPPA?
- CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Reviewing your
neighbors medical studies on your hospital PACS system
so you can give her your opinion of her condition
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPPA) includes rules to protect the privacy of the
individuals health information. This answer would violate
HIPPA
What does the mechanical index indicate on an
ultrasound system? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔The
likelihood of cavitation during an ultrasound exam
