ARDMS SPI Exam - Topic 3 Question 20 Discussion

Actual exam question for ARDMS's SPI exam

Question #: 20
Topic #: 3

[All SPI Questions]

What determines the resonant frequency of a pulsed wave transducer?

AElement thickness and pulse repetition frequency

BElement diameter and speed of sound in element

CElement diameter and element thickness

DElement thickness and speed of sound in element

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: D

The resonant frequency of a pulsed wave transducer is determined by the thickness of the piezoelectric element and the speed of sound within that element. The resonant frequency is inversely proportional to the element thickness and directly proportional to the speed of sound in the material. Thinner elements and higher sound speeds result in higher resonant frequencies, while thicker elements and lower sound speeds result in lower resonant frequencies. Reference:

ARDMS Sonography Principles and Instrumentation guidelines

Kremkau, F. W. (2015). Diagnostic Ultrasound: Principles and Instruments. Elsevier.

by Nilsa at Jan 05, 2026, 05:16 AM

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Toi

15 days ago

B could be valid too. Speed of sound is crucial in elements.

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Stephaine

20 days ago

C seems right. Diameter and thickness are key factors.

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Dante

26 days ago

I lean towards D. Thickness and speed of sound make sense.

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Caren

1 month ago

I think it's A. Thickness and pulse frequency matter.

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Lorriane

1 month ago

Pulse repetition frequency doesn't even matter here!

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Titus

1 month ago

Wait, is it really just thickness and speed? Sounds off.

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Coral

2 months ago

Definitely C! Can't believe people think otherwise.

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Talia

2 months ago

I think it's actually element diameter and thickness.

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Ayesha

2 months ago

It's all about element thickness and speed of sound!

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Henriette

2 months ago

Ah, the age-old question of pulsed wave transducer resonance. I'll go with B. Element diameter and speed of sound in element. Gotta love those physics formulas!

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Carissa

2 months ago

I'm going with C. Element diameter and element thickness. Sounds about right to me.

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Pok

2 months ago

D. Element thickness and speed of sound in element. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

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Maryln

3 months ago

Hmm, I'm not sure about this one. Maybe B? Element diameter and speed of sound in element?

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Stephaine

3 months ago

C. Element diameter and element thickness seems like the right choice to me.

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Marsha

3 months ago

I think the answer is D. Element thickness and speed of sound in element.

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Carey

4 months ago

I feel like the answer has to do with both thickness and diameter, but I’m confused about how they interact with the speed of sound.

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Nan

4 months ago

I practiced a similar question where element thickness was mentioned, but I can't remember if speed of sound was included in that one.

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Trinidad

4 months ago

I remember something about element diameter affecting the frequency, but I can't recall if it was just that or if thickness plays a role too.

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Edmond

4 months ago

I think the resonant frequency is influenced by the element thickness, but I'm not sure about the other factors.

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Lon

4 months ago

I'm pretty confident it's D. The thickness and speed of sound in the material are the key factors that set the resonant frequency. Gotta remember that for the exam.

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Rosann

4 months ago

Ugh, I hate these transducer questions. The formulas always get me mixed up. I'm just gonna guess and hope for the best.

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Garry

5 months ago

Okay, I've got this. The resonant frequency is all about the properties of the transducer element itself, not the pulse repetition. So it's gotta be either C or D.

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Jonelle

5 months ago

Hmm, I'm not sure about this one. I'll need to think it through carefully. Maybe I can eliminate some of the options first.

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Kasandra

5 months ago

I think it's D. The element thickness and speed of sound in the element should determine the resonant frequency.

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