Ultrasound Physics Mock Exam Questions for SPI 2026 – Sonography Principles and
Instrumentation Practice Test
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 - correct answer ✔✔ Vector array, 3 MHz
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% - correct answer ✔✔ 75%
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 - correct answer ✔✔ mega, kilo, deca, milk, nano
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 duration.
,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. - correct answer ✔✔ The listening time
may be one-thousand times longer than the pulse duration.
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 - correct answer ✔✔ wavelength
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 - correct answer ✔✔ propagation speed
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 - correct answer ✔✔ micro, milli, deci, kilo, mega
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. - correct answer
✔✔ Attenuation through and propagation speed in a particular medium are unrelated to each
other.
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
b. The 6 MHz beam will travel faster than the 3 MHz beam
c. The 3 MHz beam will have a higher frequency than the 6 MHz beam
d. The 6 MHZ beam will have a longer period than the 3 MHz beam
e. The 3 MHz beam will have a longer wavelength than the 6 MHz beam - correct answer ✔✔
The 3 MHz beam will have a longer wavelength than the 6 MHz beam
Rank the following media in increasing order of propagation speed.
a. muscle, liver, fat, bone, lung
b. air, lung, fat, soft tissue, bone
c. bone, muscle, fat, lung, air
d. air, fat, bone, blood, water
e. liver, kidney, fat, muscle, brain - correct answer ✔✔ air, lung, fat, soft tissue, bone
Which of the following intensities is most significant with regard to the study of bioeffects?
Instrumentation Practice Test
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 - correct answer ✔✔ Vector array, 3 MHz
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% - correct answer ✔✔ 75%
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 - correct answer ✔✔ mega, kilo, deca, milk, nano
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 duration.
,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. - correct answer ✔✔ The listening time
may be one-thousand times longer than the pulse duration.
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 - correct answer ✔✔ wavelength
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 - correct answer ✔✔ propagation speed
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 - correct answer ✔✔ micro, milli, deci, kilo, mega
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. - correct answer
✔✔ Attenuation through and propagation speed in a particular medium are unrelated to each
other.
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
b. The 6 MHz beam will travel faster than the 3 MHz beam
c. The 3 MHz beam will have a higher frequency than the 6 MHz beam
d. The 6 MHZ beam will have a longer period than the 3 MHz beam
e. The 3 MHz beam will have a longer wavelength than the 6 MHz beam - correct answer ✔✔
The 3 MHz beam will have a longer wavelength than the 6 MHz beam
Rank the following media in increasing order of propagation speed.
a. muscle, liver, fat, bone, lung
b. air, lung, fat, soft tissue, bone
c. bone, muscle, fat, lung, air
d. air, fat, bone, blood, water
e. liver, kidney, fat, muscle, brain - correct answer ✔✔ air, lung, fat, soft tissue, bone
Which of the following intensities is most significant with regard to the study of bioeffects?
