An ultrasound unit is being used to measure a patient's...

An ultrasound unit is being used to measure a patient's heartbeat by combining the emitted $2.0 \mathrm{MHz}$ signal with the sound waves reflected from the moving tissue of one point on the heart. The beat frequency between the two signals has a maximum value of $520 \mathrm{Hz}$. What is the maximum speed of the heart tissue?

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Key Concepts

Doppler Effect

The Doppler Effect describes the change in frequency (or wavelength) of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the source of the wave. In medical ultrasound, this effect is utilized to detect velocity changes in tissues or blood by observing the frequency shift of the echo compared to the transmitted wave.

Beat Frequency

Beat frequency is the result of the interference of two waves of slightly different frequencies, producing a new signal that oscillates at a frequency equal to the difference between the two original frequencies. In the context of ultrasound, the beat frequency corresponds to the frequency shift caused by the moving tissue, which is used to calculate its speed.

Reflection Doppler Shift

In ultrasound imaging, when sound waves are reflected off a moving object, the Doppler shift is experienced twice – once when the wave travels to the moving target and again when it is reflected back. This double application of the Doppler effect amplifies the frequency shift, allowing for more accurate measurements of the target's velocity.

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