What term describes the rate at which energy is transmitted through a medium by ultrasonic waves?

• A. Velocity
• B. Wavelength
• C. Frequency
• D. Amplitude

Answer: (A)

The rate at which energy moves through a medium with ultrasonic waves is described by the velocity. The energy travels with the wave front, so how fast that front propagates sets how quickly energy passes a given point. Wavelength is how long the wave is in space, frequency is how many cycles occur per second, and amplitude is how strong the oscillation is; none of those alone specifies how fast energy is transmitted. In practice, knowing the wave velocity lets you relate travel time to distance and interpret time-of-flight measurements in UT.