©THEBRIGHT 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 10:15AM A+
Davies Ultrasound Physics Review Exam
Questions And Answers |Latest 2025 |
Guaranteed Pass.
*** What action would be most in keeping w the ALARA principle while performing a diagnostic
ultrasound exam? - Answer✔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
w the use of diagnostic ultrasound)
***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? -
Answer✔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 freq will not increase exposure
***To minimize the risk of biologic effects of ultrasound to the fetus, which imaging mode
tradeoff would be most applicable? - Answer✔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
What potential bio effect occurs thru absorption of sound energy by tissue? - Answer✔Heating
Sound attenuation in tissue is primarily due to absorption (conversion of ultrasound to heat)
1
,©THEBRIGHT 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 10:15AM A+
When practicing universal precautions, you should do all the following EXCEPT: - Answer✔Wash
gloves between exams for reuse from on
-wear gloves when there is a potential for contract w 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
A nosocomial infection is defined as one that: - Answer✔Is hospital acquired
Thermally induced biologic effects should be preventable by avoiding a local tissue temperature
increase exceeding: - Answer✔1°C
Which intensity descriptor has the lowest numeric value for the characterization of a pulse
wave ultrasonic field: - Answer✔SATA
SATA, a term that is infreq used, means spatial average, time average. Note: I(SPTA) is the
spatial peak, time average intensity; I(SPTA) is the spatial peak, temporal peak
***Increased tissue heating could occur when you: - Answer✔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: - Answer✔Epidemiological study
Which of the following actions is NOT compliant w HIPPA? - Answer✔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? - Answer✔The likelihood of
cavitation during an ultrasound exam
Mechanical index is derived from the peak rarefaction pressure and the ultrasound freq,
parameters shown to be associated w onset of cavitation
In medicine, what do the initials PHI indicate? - Answer✔Protected health information
***What should you limit when the thermal index exceeds 1? - Answer✔Exposure time
2
,©THEBRIGHT 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 10:15AM A+
***To practice the ALARA principle, which of the following techniques should you employ? -
Answer✔Use the lowest transmit power that allows adequate tissue visualization
Use a high gain and low transmit power
The thermal index indicates: - Answer✔Estimated temperature increase in tissue
Temperature increase is calculated assuming certain values for the absorption and thermal
properties of tissues and taking into account factors such as beam geometry, freq and power.
Technically, it is the ratio of the power being produced to the power needed for a 1° C
temperature increase if tissues have the assumed properties
***The operator control most directly adjusts the intensity of the transmitted pulse? -
Answer✔Acoustic output (transmit) power
Pulse repetition freq can also affect the intensity, specifically the I(SPTA) because it affects the
duty factor
Which of the following would show the highest intensity value? - Answer✔SPTP
Note that Im is the intensity over the half wave period within the transmit pulse where it is the
greatest! This term is seldom specified
Which intensity parameter is not applicable for continuous wave ultrasound? - Answer✔SPPA
and SAPA refer to pulse average intensities, which do not apply to continuous wave ultrasound.
Which of the following would most likely have the highest SPTA value? - Answer✔PW doppler
Using a hydrophone, you can measure: - Answer✔Pressure amplitude and duty factor
Which of the following parameters relates to tissue heating? - Answer✔Absorption
***Which of the following occurs when you use the maximum system gain?
Increased tissue heating
Increased risk of cavitation
Fluid particle streaming
Increased sound absorption
None of the above - Answer✔None of the above
3
, ©THEBRIGHT 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 10:15AM A+
You are performing a sonographic examined notice that the thermal index (TI) is > 1. Any
increase in temperature would be greatest in: - Answer✔Bone
The motion of particles in a fluid is sometimes observed in an intense ultrasound beam. This is
termed: - Answer✔Acoustic streaming
Acoustic streaming is defined as an acoustically generated transport of fluid within the body of
the insinuated fluid or tissue (AIUM nomenclature, 09). This is a mechanical instruction of tissue
and sound, where the beam literally pushes the media. If the medium is a fluid and fluid is free
to move or it particles in the medium are free, they can move in directions determined by the
beam and any obstacles that are present, such as interfaces
You are performing a sonographic exam and notice that the TI reading is 1. What does this
indicate - Answer✔The output level is high enough that temperature could increase as much as
1° C if the txd were held stationary
What sonographic application has the lowest FDA approved SPTA values? -
Answer✔Ophthalmic
The following advantage is associated w use of the MI and TI indices: - Answer✔Information is
available on the screen to help the sonographer implement the ALARA principles
When scanning w pulsed wave doppler, you would affect the acoustic exposure by changing
which of the following? - Answer✔Pulse repetition freq
The pulse repetition freq is the number of pulses per second transmitted by the transducer,
which varies w the velocity setting on the spectral display. Increasing pulse repetition freq has
the potential to increase the acoustic exposure
What should you do to avoid nosocomial and cross infection w sonographic probes? -
Answer✔-Probe cleaning should aways proceed high level disinfection
-Disinfection using a germicide compatible w the txd is indicated when the probe is in contact w
mucous membranes
Alone, covering the prove w a condom is insufficient. Proper cleaning of the probe both before
and after the procedure is required. Alcohol wipes are not recommended by manufacturers as
they will degrade the txd surface over time
The following illustration depicts acoustic pressure v distance in a medium in which a sound
wave is present What wound parameter is measured by the length of the bar labeled A in the
following illustration? - Answer✔Wavelength
4
Davies Ultrasound Physics Review Exam
Questions And Answers |Latest 2025 |
Guaranteed Pass.
*** What action would be most in keeping w the ALARA principle while performing a diagnostic
ultrasound exam? - Answer✔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
w the use of diagnostic ultrasound)
***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? -
Answer✔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 freq will not increase exposure
***To minimize the risk of biologic effects of ultrasound to the fetus, which imaging mode
tradeoff would be most applicable? - Answer✔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
What potential bio effect occurs thru absorption of sound energy by tissue? - Answer✔Heating
Sound attenuation in tissue is primarily due to absorption (conversion of ultrasound to heat)
1
,©THEBRIGHT 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 10:15AM A+
When practicing universal precautions, you should do all the following EXCEPT: - Answer✔Wash
gloves between exams for reuse from on
-wear gloves when there is a potential for contract w 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
A nosocomial infection is defined as one that: - Answer✔Is hospital acquired
Thermally induced biologic effects should be preventable by avoiding a local tissue temperature
increase exceeding: - Answer✔1°C
Which intensity descriptor has the lowest numeric value for the characterization of a pulse
wave ultrasonic field: - Answer✔SATA
SATA, a term that is infreq used, means spatial average, time average. Note: I(SPTA) is the
spatial peak, time average intensity; I(SPTA) is the spatial peak, temporal peak
***Increased tissue heating could occur when you: - Answer✔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: - Answer✔Epidemiological study
Which of the following actions is NOT compliant w HIPPA? - Answer✔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? - Answer✔The likelihood of
cavitation during an ultrasound exam
Mechanical index is derived from the peak rarefaction pressure and the ultrasound freq,
parameters shown to be associated w onset of cavitation
In medicine, what do the initials PHI indicate? - Answer✔Protected health information
***What should you limit when the thermal index exceeds 1? - Answer✔Exposure time
2
,©THEBRIGHT 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 10:15AM A+
***To practice the ALARA principle, which of the following techniques should you employ? -
Answer✔Use the lowest transmit power that allows adequate tissue visualization
Use a high gain and low transmit power
The thermal index indicates: - Answer✔Estimated temperature increase in tissue
Temperature increase is calculated assuming certain values for the absorption and thermal
properties of tissues and taking into account factors such as beam geometry, freq and power.
Technically, it is the ratio of the power being produced to the power needed for a 1° C
temperature increase if tissues have the assumed properties
***The operator control most directly adjusts the intensity of the transmitted pulse? -
Answer✔Acoustic output (transmit) power
Pulse repetition freq can also affect the intensity, specifically the I(SPTA) because it affects the
duty factor
Which of the following would show the highest intensity value? - Answer✔SPTP
Note that Im is the intensity over the half wave period within the transmit pulse where it is the
greatest! This term is seldom specified
Which intensity parameter is not applicable for continuous wave ultrasound? - Answer✔SPPA
and SAPA refer to pulse average intensities, which do not apply to continuous wave ultrasound.
Which of the following would most likely have the highest SPTA value? - Answer✔PW doppler
Using a hydrophone, you can measure: - Answer✔Pressure amplitude and duty factor
Which of the following parameters relates to tissue heating? - Answer✔Absorption
***Which of the following occurs when you use the maximum system gain?
Increased tissue heating
Increased risk of cavitation
Fluid particle streaming
Increased sound absorption
None of the above - Answer✔None of the above
3
, ©THEBRIGHT 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 10:15AM A+
You are performing a sonographic examined notice that the thermal index (TI) is > 1. Any
increase in temperature would be greatest in: - Answer✔Bone
The motion of particles in a fluid is sometimes observed in an intense ultrasound beam. This is
termed: - Answer✔Acoustic streaming
Acoustic streaming is defined as an acoustically generated transport of fluid within the body of
the insinuated fluid or tissue (AIUM nomenclature, 09). This is a mechanical instruction of tissue
and sound, where the beam literally pushes the media. If the medium is a fluid and fluid is free
to move or it particles in the medium are free, they can move in directions determined by the
beam and any obstacles that are present, such as interfaces
You are performing a sonographic exam and notice that the TI reading is 1. What does this
indicate - Answer✔The output level is high enough that temperature could increase as much as
1° C if the txd were held stationary
What sonographic application has the lowest FDA approved SPTA values? -
Answer✔Ophthalmic
The following advantage is associated w use of the MI and TI indices: - Answer✔Information is
available on the screen to help the sonographer implement the ALARA principles
When scanning w pulsed wave doppler, you would affect the acoustic exposure by changing
which of the following? - Answer✔Pulse repetition freq
The pulse repetition freq is the number of pulses per second transmitted by the transducer,
which varies w the velocity setting on the spectral display. Increasing pulse repetition freq has
the potential to increase the acoustic exposure
What should you do to avoid nosocomial and cross infection w sonographic probes? -
Answer✔-Probe cleaning should aways proceed high level disinfection
-Disinfection using a germicide compatible w the txd is indicated when the probe is in contact w
mucous membranes
Alone, covering the prove w a condom is insufficient. Proper cleaning of the probe both before
and after the procedure is required. Alcohol wipes are not recommended by manufacturers as
they will degrade the txd surface over time
The following illustration depicts acoustic pressure v distance in a medium in which a sound
wave is present What wound parameter is measured by the length of the bar labeled A in the
following illustration? - Answer✔Wavelength
4
