Dylnn Nicol

Ultrasound
A frequency is how many sound waves are in one second and is measured in hertz. The sound spectrum can be split up into three sections. The first of the three is a frequency below 20 Hz and is known as infrasound and is used in the studies of things such as earthquakes. Second is the frequency range of 20Hz to 20,000Hz and this is called audio. This section is particularly important because it is the hearing range of the average human. Audio is used in areas such as communication and music. The final section of this spectrum is ultrasound also known ultrasonic. Ultrasound is the frequency that is above 20,000 Hz and because of this in cannot be heard by the average human ear. It is maybe this section of the spectrum that is the most interesting due to its wide variety of uses. The most general and well known use of ultrasound is in the field of medicine. The most popular use of this is in medical scans such as looking for tumours and baby scans. A more uncommon use of medical sonography is HIFU or High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound. This is a medical procedure that uses high-intensity focused ultrasonic energy to heat and destroy diseased or damaged skin tissue. A lesser known use of ultrasonic sounds is for cleaning. It is used for precisely cleaning optical parts such as jewellery and lenses. This can also be used for cleaning things like surgical tools, dental equipment, watches and industrial parts. It works mostly by energy released from the collapse of microscopic cavitation near the dirty surface. Another use of ultrasounds is ultrasonic welding. The welding of plastics is done by a high frequency at 15,000 Hz to 40,000Hz at low amplitude the vibrations are used to create heat by friction between the two materials to be joined. One of the most efficient uses of ultrasound is in the area of sonar navigation and radar detection. Sonar navigation and radar detection is heavy used by military naval vessels. This works by sending out high frequencies and bouncing them of objects and timing how long it takes for the signal to return. This creates an image allowing the vessel to get an accurate reading of their surroundings. This is probably the longest running use of ultra sound with the earliest recorded use being in 1917. Whilst ultrasound has been used for many years in these areas there are still new discoveries being made. The most recent use of ultrasound is in the development of ultrasonic weapons. Ultrasound can be used in weapons for things such as riot control, disorientation of attackers and in some cases for lethal attack. With new discoveries like ultrasonic weapons being made I believe that we have only begun to realize the potential that ultra sound offers to the world. 1|Page