Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) Practice Exam

What units are used to express pressure in acoustics and ultrasound?

Pascals Newtons Joules Meters

Correct Answer:

Newtons

Explanation:

Pressure is force per unit area, so its SI unit is the pascal, defined as one newton per square meter. In acoustics and ultrasound, we describe sound pressure using pascals (often kilopascals) and, for levels, in decibels relative to 20 micropascals. Newtons measure force, joules measure energy, and meters measure length, so they don’t express pressure. Thus, pascals are the correct units for pressure in this field.

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