Exploring Structure Using Waves Flashcards

All 3 cards in this deck

Why can waves be used to explore structures that are hidden from direct observation?

They are partially reflected at boundaries between different materials, so the reflected waves reveal where the boundaries are.

Which three properties of waves differ between materials and so are used to explore hidden structures?

Velocity, absorption and reflection.

Give three uses of waves to detect or explore structures hidden from direct observation.

Ultrasound medical scanning, ultrasound flaw detection in metals, echo sounding of water depth and seismic waves probing the Earth's interior.