ARDMS SPI (Sonography Principles &
Instrumentation) – Comprehensive Practice
Exam
Exam: ARDMS SPI (Sonography Principles & Instrumentation)
Focus: Physics, instrumentation, Doppler, hemodynamics, image artifacts,
and quality assurance
SECTION 1: Sound Wave Physics (Questions 1-20)
Q1. Ultrasound is defined as sound with a frequency greater than:
• A) 1,000 Hz
• B) 10,000 Hz
• C) 20,000 Hz
• D) 100,000 Hz
Answer: C – Ultrasound is sound with a frequency greater than 20,000 Hz
(20 kHz). Human hearing ranges from approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Q2. The period of a wave is the time required to complete one:
• A) Wavelength
• B) Compression
• C) Cycle
• D) Rarefaction
Answer: C – The period is the time required to complete one single cycle.
Period = 1/frequency. It is measured in units of time (seconds,
microseconds).
Q3. If the frequency of a sound wave increases, the wavelength:
• A) Increases
, • B) Decreases
• C) Remains the same
• D) Doubles
Answer: B – Frequency and wavelength are inversely related when
propagation speed is constant (λ = c/f). As frequency increases, wavelength
decreases.
Q4. The propagation speed of ultrasound in a medium is determined by
the medium's:
• A) Density and elasticity
• B) Temperature only
• C) Frequency
• D) Wavelength
Answer: A – Propagation speed (c) is determined by the density and
elasticity (stiffness) of the medium. Speed increases with increased
stiffness and decreases with increased density.
Q5. Which of the following acoustic parameters can be changed by the
sonographer?
• A) Propagation speed
• B) Frequency
• C) Wavelength
• D) Density
Answer: B – The sonographer can adjust the frequency of the ultrasound
pulse. Propagation speed is determined by the medium. Wavelength is
determined by frequency and medium. Density is a property of the
medium.
,Q6. The formula for the frequency of an ultrasound wave is:
• A) f = c / λ
• B) f = λ / c
• C) f = c × λ
• D) f = 1 / λ
Answer: A – f = c/λ. Frequency is the propagation speed divided by the
wavelength. Wavelength = c/f.
Q7. In soft tissue, the average propagation speed of ultrasound is
approximately:
• A) 1,540 m/s
• B) 1,540 m/s
• C) 1,540 m/s
• D) 1,540 m/s
Answer: B – The average propagation speed of ultrasound in soft tissue is
approximately 1,540 m/s. This is the speed used by ultrasound systems for
depth calculations.
Q8. The acoustic impedance (Z) of a medium is calculated as:
• A) Z = ρ × c
• B) Z = ρ / c
• C) Z = c / ρ
• D) Z = ρ × λ
Answer: A – Z = ρ × c, where ρ is the density and c is the propagation speed
of the medium. Acoustic impedance determines the amount of reflection at
an interface.
, Q9. Attenuation is defined as:
• A) The increase in sound intensity as it travels
• B) The decrease in sound intensity as it travels through a medium
• C) The reflection of sound at an interface
• D) The refraction of sound at an interface
Answer: B – Attenuation is the decrease in intensity, power, and amplitude
of sound as it travels through a medium. It is caused by absorption,
reflection, and scattering.
Q10. Which of the following factors has the greatest effect on
attenuation?
• A) Frequency
• B) Propagation speed
• C) Wavelength
• D) Period
Answer: A – Attenuation is directly proportional to frequency. Higher
frequency sound is attenuated more than lower frequency sound. This is
why lower frequencies are used for deeper structures.
SECTION 2: Transducers & Beam Formation (Questions 21-40)
Q11. The piezoelectric effect is the ability of certain crystals to:
• A) Convert electrical energy into mechanical energy
• B) Convert mechanical energy into electrical energy
• C) Both A and B
• D) Neither A nor B
Instrumentation) – Comprehensive Practice
Exam
Exam: ARDMS SPI (Sonography Principles & Instrumentation)
Focus: Physics, instrumentation, Doppler, hemodynamics, image artifacts,
and quality assurance
SECTION 1: Sound Wave Physics (Questions 1-20)
Q1. Ultrasound is defined as sound with a frequency greater than:
• A) 1,000 Hz
• B) 10,000 Hz
• C) 20,000 Hz
• D) 100,000 Hz
Answer: C – Ultrasound is sound with a frequency greater than 20,000 Hz
(20 kHz). Human hearing ranges from approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Q2. The period of a wave is the time required to complete one:
• A) Wavelength
• B) Compression
• C) Cycle
• D) Rarefaction
Answer: C – The period is the time required to complete one single cycle.
Period = 1/frequency. It is measured in units of time (seconds,
microseconds).
Q3. If the frequency of a sound wave increases, the wavelength:
• A) Increases
, • B) Decreases
• C) Remains the same
• D) Doubles
Answer: B – Frequency and wavelength are inversely related when
propagation speed is constant (λ = c/f). As frequency increases, wavelength
decreases.
Q4. The propagation speed of ultrasound in a medium is determined by
the medium's:
• A) Density and elasticity
• B) Temperature only
• C) Frequency
• D) Wavelength
Answer: A – Propagation speed (c) is determined by the density and
elasticity (stiffness) of the medium. Speed increases with increased
stiffness and decreases with increased density.
Q5. Which of the following acoustic parameters can be changed by the
sonographer?
• A) Propagation speed
• B) Frequency
• C) Wavelength
• D) Density
Answer: B – The sonographer can adjust the frequency of the ultrasound
pulse. Propagation speed is determined by the medium. Wavelength is
determined by frequency and medium. Density is a property of the
medium.
,Q6. The formula for the frequency of an ultrasound wave is:
• A) f = c / λ
• B) f = λ / c
• C) f = c × λ
• D) f = 1 / λ
Answer: A – f = c/λ. Frequency is the propagation speed divided by the
wavelength. Wavelength = c/f.
Q7. In soft tissue, the average propagation speed of ultrasound is
approximately:
• A) 1,540 m/s
• B) 1,540 m/s
• C) 1,540 m/s
• D) 1,540 m/s
Answer: B – The average propagation speed of ultrasound in soft tissue is
approximately 1,540 m/s. This is the speed used by ultrasound systems for
depth calculations.
Q8. The acoustic impedance (Z) of a medium is calculated as:
• A) Z = ρ × c
• B) Z = ρ / c
• C) Z = c / ρ
• D) Z = ρ × λ
Answer: A – Z = ρ × c, where ρ is the density and c is the propagation speed
of the medium. Acoustic impedance determines the amount of reflection at
an interface.
, Q9. Attenuation is defined as:
• A) The increase in sound intensity as it travels
• B) The decrease in sound intensity as it travels through a medium
• C) The reflection of sound at an interface
• D) The refraction of sound at an interface
Answer: B – Attenuation is the decrease in intensity, power, and amplitude
of sound as it travels through a medium. It is caused by absorption,
reflection, and scattering.
Q10. Which of the following factors has the greatest effect on
attenuation?
• A) Frequency
• B) Propagation speed
• C) Wavelength
• D) Period
Answer: A – Attenuation is directly proportional to frequency. Higher
frequency sound is attenuated more than lower frequency sound. This is
why lower frequencies are used for deeper structures.
SECTION 2: Transducers & Beam Formation (Questions 21-40)
Q11. The piezoelectric effect is the ability of certain crystals to:
• A) Convert electrical energy into mechanical energy
• B) Convert mechanical energy into electrical energy
• C) Both A and B
• D) Neither A nor B
