Ultrasound Physics – Mock Exam Questions for SPI |
ARDMS & CCI Physics Exam Prep 2024–2025
This document contains realistic mock exam questions with verified answers
specifically designed for the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) exam
required by ARDMS and CCI. It covers key ultrasound physics topics including
wave properties, Doppler effect, transducers, hemodynamics, resolution, artifacts,
and instrumentation. Ideal for students preparing for the SPI exam as part of
RDMS, RVT, or other ultrasound certifications in 2024–2025.
1. Which of the following transducers will have the worst axial resolution?
a. Vector array, 3 MHz
b. Linear Sequential Array, 6 MHZ
c. Linear Phased Array 7.5 MHZ
d. Annular Array, 6 MHz: Vector array, 3 MHz
2. A sound wave is traveling in the body and propagates from muscle to air.
What percentage of the sound wave is most likely reflected at the muscle-air
boundary?
a. 0.5%
b. 75%
,c. 25%
d. 5%
e. 99%: 75%
3. Which of the following lists is in decreasing order?
a. mega, kilo, deca, milli, nano
b. centi, mill, kilo, mega, nano
c. micro, milli, deci, kilo, mega
d. micro, kilo, mega, deci, milli
e. mega, micro, deci, milli, hecto: mega, kilo, deca, milk, nano
4. During a diagnostic exam, which of these statements is most correct when
describing the pulsed echo characteristics of an ultrasound system.
a. The listening time may be one-thousand times longer than the pulse dura-
tion.
b. the pulse duration is longer than the pulse repetition period.
c. The pulse duration is similar to the listening time.
d. The duty factor has a value close to 1
e. The pulse repitition period is similar to the period.: The listening time may
be one-thousand times longer than the pulse duration.
5. Which of the following parameters is determined by both the ultrasound
system and the medium through which the sound travels?
a. period
b. frequency
c. temperature
d. wavelength
, e. velocity of the sound: wavelength
6. You should be familiar with the formula L= C/F.
What does "C" stand for in this equation?
a. characteristic impedence
b. density
c. compliance
d. compressability
e. propagation speed: propagation speed
7. Which of the following lists is in increasing order?
a. mega, kilo, milli, nano, centi
b. centi, milli, kilo, mega, nano
c. micro, kilo, milli, deci, mega
d. micro, milli, deci, kilo, mega
e. mega, micro, deci, mill, hecto: micro, milli, deci, kilo, mega
8. Which of the following statements about speed and attenuation are true?
a. Attenuation through and propagation speed in a particular medium are
unrelated to each other.
b. When a sound beam travels faster in a medium, the attenuation is less.
c. When a sound beam travels slower in a medium, the attenuation is more.:
Attenuation through and propagation speed in a particular medium are unrelated
to each other.
9. A sonographer is scanning a patient with a 3 MHz probe and replaces it
with a 6 MHz probe. All of the following statements are FALSE, except:
a. The 6 MHz beam will travel at a lower speed than the 3 MHz beam
ARDMS & CCI Physics Exam Prep 2024–2025
This document contains realistic mock exam questions with verified answers
specifically designed for the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) exam
required by ARDMS and CCI. It covers key ultrasound physics topics including
wave properties, Doppler effect, transducers, hemodynamics, resolution, artifacts,
and instrumentation. Ideal for students preparing for the SPI exam as part of
RDMS, RVT, or other ultrasound certifications in 2024–2025.
1. Which of the following transducers will have the worst axial resolution?
a. Vector array, 3 MHz
b. Linear Sequential Array, 6 MHZ
c. Linear Phased Array 7.5 MHZ
d. Annular Array, 6 MHz: Vector array, 3 MHz
2. A sound wave is traveling in the body and propagates from muscle to air.
What percentage of the sound wave is most likely reflected at the muscle-air
boundary?
a. 0.5%
b. 75%
,c. 25%
d. 5%
e. 99%: 75%
3. Which of the following lists is in decreasing order?
a. mega, kilo, deca, milli, nano
b. centi, mill, kilo, mega, nano
c. micro, milli, deci, kilo, mega
d. micro, kilo, mega, deci, milli
e. mega, micro, deci, milli, hecto: mega, kilo, deca, milk, nano
4. During a diagnostic exam, which of these statements is most correct when
describing the pulsed echo characteristics of an ultrasound system.
a. The listening time may be one-thousand times longer than the pulse dura-
tion.
b. the pulse duration is longer than the pulse repetition period.
c. The pulse duration is similar to the listening time.
d. The duty factor has a value close to 1
e. The pulse repitition period is similar to the period.: The listening time may
be one-thousand times longer than the pulse duration.
5. Which of the following parameters is determined by both the ultrasound
system and the medium through which the sound travels?
a. period
b. frequency
c. temperature
d. wavelength
, e. velocity of the sound: wavelength
6. You should be familiar with the formula L= C/F.
What does "C" stand for in this equation?
a. characteristic impedence
b. density
c. compliance
d. compressability
e. propagation speed: propagation speed
7. Which of the following lists is in increasing order?
a. mega, kilo, milli, nano, centi
b. centi, milli, kilo, mega, nano
c. micro, kilo, milli, deci, mega
d. micro, milli, deci, kilo, mega
e. mega, micro, deci, mill, hecto: micro, milli, deci, kilo, mega
8. Which of the following statements about speed and attenuation are true?
a. Attenuation through and propagation speed in a particular medium are
unrelated to each other.
b. When a sound beam travels faster in a medium, the attenuation is less.
c. When a sound beam travels slower in a medium, the attenuation is more.:
Attenuation through and propagation speed in a particular medium are unrelated
to each other.
9. A sonographer is scanning a patient with a 3 MHz probe and replaces it
with a 6 MHz probe. All of the following statements are FALSE, except:
a. The 6 MHz beam will travel at a lower speed than the 3 MHz beam
