Section 2: Physics of Ultrasound

As can be noted by the equation, a change in frequency will result in a
change in wavelength. Change the frequency in the applet and view the
resultant wavelength. At a frequency of .2 and a material velocity of 0.585
(longitudinal wave in steel) note the resulting wavelength. Adjust the material
velocity to 0.480 (longitudinal wave in cast iron) and note the resulting
wavelength. Increase the frequency to 0.8 and note the shortened wavelength
in each material.
In ultrasonic testing, the shorter wavelength resulting from an increase in
frequency will usually provide for the detection of smaller discontinuities. This
will be discussed more in following sections.
Keywords:
the shorter wavelength resulting from an increase in frequency will usually
provide for the detection of smaller discontinuities