Question

The table shows the speed of ultrasound waves in different tissues in the human body.
What happens to an ultrasound wave that moves from muscle to bone?
Tissue
Speed
(m/s)


Air
330
Fat
1,450
Water
1,480
Liver
1,550
Kidney
1,560
Blood
1,570
Muscle
1,580
Bone
4,080
(1 point)

The frequency of the wave increases

The wavelength of the wave decreases

The wavelength of the wave increases

The frequency of the wave decreases

Answer 1

When an ultrasound wave transitions from muscle (1,580 m/s) to bone (4,080 m/s), the speed of the wave increases because sound travels faster in bone than in muscle.

According to the principles of wave behavior, the frequency of a wave remains constant when it moves from one medium to another. Therefore, if the speed increases, the wavelength must also increase, since the relationship between speed (v), frequency (f), and wavelength (λ) is given by the equation:

\[ v = f \cdot \lambda \]

Since the frequency remains constant and the speed increases, the wavelength must also increase to maintain the equation.

Thus, the correct answer is:

**The wavelength of the wave increases.**