Ultrasonic Waves

The science of sound technology is termed as acoustics. The sound waves are classified
into three forms according to the frequency. Human can recognize the sound in the
frequency range of 20 to 20,000Hz i.e. audible range and the sound vibrations below 20Hz
are ultrasonic and sound vibration above the upper audible limit of 20 kHz are Ultrasonic.
The word Ultrasonic is a combination of two Latin words Ultra and sonic. Ultra means
beyond and sonic means sound. The Ultrasonic has wide application in various fields of
Science and Technology. Ultrasonic technique is also used as non-destructive method of
characterize the materials, imaging, detection and navigation.

1. Production of ultrasonics
Ultrasonics waves are produced by the following methods.
1. Magneto-striction method

Principle: When a rod of ferromagnetic material (e.g. Nickel or Iron) is placed in the
magnetic field parallel to its length a small extension or contraction occurs in its length.
This is called magnetostriction effect. This change of length is independent of the sign of
the field and depends on the magnitude of the field and nature of material.

Construction: - A rod of ferromagnetic material (iron or nickel) is taken. - This rod is

clamped at the center. A copper coil is wound (wrapped) on the rod through which dc
current is passed. Due to this the rod gets permanently magnetized. - Two other coils L1
and L are also wrapped on two opposite ends of the rod. A collector tuned tank
(resonant) circuit is formed by connecting a variable capacitor C1 parallel to the coil L1.
When the circuit gets on, an alternating current of frequency f= √ flows in the
tank circuit and alternating magnetic field is generated. The frequency of the oscillator
circuit is controlled by the variable circuit. The coil L2 is connected to the base of the
transistor and act as feedback loop. The alternating magnetic field because of
magnetostriction effect leads to vibrations in the ferromagnetic rod (alternate change in
lateral dimensions).
The frequency of vibration of the rod is given by

f’= √
where is the length of the rod Y is Young’s modulus of the rod, k =1,2…is the first ,
second…fundamental overtone and is the density of the rod material. The capacitance
of the C1 is varied to make f=f’ (resonance condition). At resonance the longitudinal
vibrations have the maximum amplitude which led to the production of ultrasonic waves.

2. Piezo-electric method:
Principle:
When certain crystals like quartz, Rochelle salt, tourmaline etc. are stretched or
compressed along certain axis (known as mechanical axis), an electric potential difference
is produced along a perpendicular axis (known as electrical axis). The converse of this
effect is also true i.e. when an alternating potential difference is applied along electric
axis; the crystal is set into elastic vibration along mechanical axis.
Quartz Crystal is found in nature is in the form of hexagonal prisms capped with
hexagonal pyramids at both ends as shown in the figure 1. The straight line joining their
pointed ends is called the optic axis of the crystal. The section of the crystal cut
perpendicular to the optic axis is a hexagon and three lines passing the opposite vertices
of the hexagon form the electric axes (figure 1 (b)). Three axes perpendicular to these
electric axes and passing through center of opposite faces form the mechanical axes.
 Figure 1: The description of quartz crystal cured to a form suitable for use in piezoelectric cell.

If the alternating potential difference is applied to the crystal slab, rapid

alteration of compression and extension takes place in two perpendicular
directions resulting in forced vibrations of the crystal. When frequency of the
forced vibrations becomes equal to natural frequency of the crystal, resonance
occurs and amplitude of vibrations becomes sufficiently large. When an
alternative potential is applied along the electrical axis, the crystal will set into
electric vibrations along the mechanical axis.
The frequency of crystal vibrations is

f’= √ .
where is the thickness of the crystal Y is Young’s modulus of the crystal, k
=1,2…is the first , second…fundamental overtone and is the density of the
cryastal.
 Quartz crystal is placed

The quartz crystal between the metal plates is connected to inductor L3 which is
inductively coupled to electronic oscillator. The oscillator is transistor base tuned
circuit. The collector coil L2 is inductively coupled to base coil L1. L1 and C1 form
the tank circuit. When the battery is switched on, alternating voltage with
frequency
f= √
Due to mutual induction oscillating emf is generated in coil L3, which is linked to
plates A and B.
Due to inverse piezoelectric effect the crystal contracts and expands and

therefore produces mechanical vibrations of frequency f’= √ .

The variable capacitor C1 is adjusted to meet the resonance condition. At
resonance condition the crystal vibrates with maximum amplitude and
ultrasonic waves are produced.
2. Detection of ultrasonics
The presence of ultrasonic waves can be detected by the following methods.
 Piezo electric method
 Kundt’s tube method
 Sensitive flame method
 Thermal detection method
Piezo electric method
  Piezo electric effect can also used for the detection of ultrasonics.
 When ever the ultrasonic waves are incident along the mechanical axis of the crystal a
certain potential difference is developed across the faces.
 This potential difference indicates the ultrasonic waves.

Kundt’s tube method

 As shown in figure Kundt’s tube filled with lycopodium power in the bottom portion of the tube
can
also be used for detecting ultrasonic waves whose length is of the order of a few millimeters.
 When ultrasonic waves pass through tube then stationary waves are formed due to super
position of incident and reflected waves. The power will be collected as leaps at nodes and
dispended at anti nodes.
 By observing this, we can detect the ultrasonic waves in the tube.

Sensitive flame method

 A narrow sensitive flame is moved along the medium.
 At the positions of antinodes, the flame is steady.
 At the positions of nodes, the flame flickers because there is a change in pressure.
 In this way, positions of nodes and antinodes can be found out in the medium.
  By observing this, we can detect the ultrasonic waves

Thermal detection method

 When ultrasonic waves pass through a medium, then alternative compressions and rare
factors are formed. At compression, particles of medium are brought closer and collisions
between them increases. As a result of this the temperature of medium increases at
compressions. On the other hand, the temperature of medium decreases at rarefaction due to
the fact that particles of medium go move away from each other and frequency of collisions is
decreased
 When platinum wire is moved in the medium consists of standing waves of ultrasonics due
to variations of temperature at nodes and antinodes, the resistance of the wire changes. By
noticing the changing of resistance of wire one can detect the presence of ultrasonic waves.

Applications of Ultrasonic waves:

(1)Detection of flaws (imperfections) in metals: Ultrasonic waves can be used to detect flaws in metal. When
ultrasonic waves pass through a metal having a hole or crack or some imperfections inside it, an appreciable
reflection occurs. The reflections also take place from back surface of the metal. When we see these reflected
waves on the C. R. O., it is possible to locate the position of flaws.

(2)Sonar (Detection of submarines, Iceberg and other objects in Ocean):It is possible to determine the presence of
the submarine under the water or an enemy air craft by a system known as Sonar. Sonar is a device which stands
for Sound Navigation and Ranging. In this system a sharp ultrasonic beam is directed in various directions into the
sea. When there is some object in sea these beams are reflected. The time interval between generation of
ultrasonic beam and reflected beam gives the idea of the distance of the object. The change in the frequency of
the echo signal due to Doppler Effect helps to determine the velocity of the object and its direction.

(3)Depth of sea: To find out the depth of the sea, the time interval between sending the wave and the reflected
wave from the sea is recorded. As the velocity of the wave is known, hence the depth of the sea can be estimated.
∴Depth of the sea = v t /2.

(4)Cleaning and clearing: ultrasonic waves can be used for cleaning utensils, washing clothes, removing dust and
soot from the chimney.

(5)Directional signaling: the Ultrasonic waves can be concentrated into a sharp beam due to smaller wavelength
and hence can be used for signaling in a particular direction.

(6)Soldering and metal cutting: Ultrasonic waves can be used for drilling and cutting processes in metals. These
waves can also be used for soldering. e.g. aluminum cannot be soldered by normal methods. To solder aluminum
ultrasonic wave along with electrical soldering iron is used. Also, ultrasonic welding can be done at room
temperature.

(7)Formation of alloys: The constituents of alloys having widely different densities can be mixed uniformly by a
beam of ultrasonic. Thus it is possible to have alloy of uniform composition.

(8)Ultrasonic mixing: A colloidal solution or emulsion of two non-miscible liquids like oil and water can be formed
by simultaneously subjecting to ultrasonic radiations. Nowadays most of the emulsions like polishes, paints, food
products and pharmaceutical preparations are prepared by using ultrasonic mixing.

(9)Coagulation and crystallization: The particles of suspended liquids can be brought quite close to each other by
ultrasonic so that coagulation may take place. The crystallization rate is also affected by ultrasonic. When molten
metal is put to crystallization, the size of crystals can be made smaller and more uniform by the use of ultrasonic.
(10) Ultrasonics in metallurgy: Ultrasonic waves are used to irradiate molten metals which are in the process of
cooling. This is required to refine grain size and to prevent the formation of cores and to release trapped gases.
(11) Destruction of lower life: The animals like rats, frogs, fishes etc. can be killed or injured by high intensity
ultrasonic.

(12) Treatment of neuralgic pain: The body parts affected due to neuralgic or rheumatic pains get great relief from
pain when they are exposed to ultrasonic.

(13) Detection of abnormal growth: Abnormal growth in the brain, certain tumors which cannot be detected by X-
ray can be detected by ultrasonic waves.