What characteristic of ultrasound describes how far a wave travels in a medium?

The characteristic of ultrasound that describes how far a wave travels in a medium is velocity. Velocity refers to the speed at which sound waves propagate through different tissues and materials. It is a critical factor in sonography because it influences the time it takes for echoes to return to the transducer after bouncing off structures within the body.

Understanding velocity helps sonographers make accurate measurements and adjust imaging parameters for optimal ultrasound quality. The velocity of sound varies depending on the medium; for instance, sound travels faster in bone compared to soft tissue or air. This characteristic is foundational for interpreting ultrasound images and can provide important information related to the physical properties of the medium through which the sound is traveling.

While wavelength, frequency, and amplitude are significant properties of ultrasound waves, they do not specifically measure how far a wave travels. Wavelength is related to the spatial distance between consecutive wave peaks, frequency refers to how often a wave cycles per second, and amplitude pertains to the strength or intensity of the wave. None of these characteristics directly indicate how far the wave can travel within its medium.