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Separate Physics · Paper 2 · Higher Tier only · P6

Higher: ultrasound and echo ranging

Key ideas1 of 3

Reflections reveal hidden boundaries

Ultrasound has a frequency above the upper limit of human hearing, greater than about 20 kHz. A pulse entering a material is partially reflected where it meets a boundary between different media. Other energy may be transmitted or absorbed. Detecting the returning reflections reveals boundaries hidden from direct view. Differences in reflection and absorption influence which structures can be detected and how strongly they appear.

A probe sends a pulse towards a material boundary; a return path is shown.

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Daily 5 · Exam practice · Revision sheet ↓

Higher Tier only · P6. Use alongside the shared P6 lessons.

AQA GCSE Physics 8463 · 4.6.1.5. Original notes, questions and diagrams. Models are simplified; teaching data are illustrative.