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Using ultrasound: OCR A‑Level Physics A questions

Every OCR A-Level Physics A exam question on 6.5.3 Using ultrasound, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,877 questions

  1. Q15

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 15: Ultrasound scanning uses waves of a particular type and frequency. Which row of the table is correct for these waves? Type Frequency range A Longitudinal Up to

  2. Q3

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 3: Which one of these non‑invasive medical scans does not expose the patient to ionising radiation? A CAT B PET C Ultrasound D X‑ray Your answer [1]

  3. Q17(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marks6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 17(a): Explain what is meant by ultrasound. [2]

  4. Q17(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    6 marks6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    Mark scheme (PDF)
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 17(b): Ultrasound B-scans can be used to image unborn babies. (b)* Fig. 17.1 is a labelled photograph of an ultrasound examination of a patient. Fig. 17.1 transducer p

  5. Q17(c)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 17(c)(i): Explain why no signal is received back from A. [1]

  6. Q17(c)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marks6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 17(c)(ii): Explain why a greater signal is received back from B than C. [2]

  7. Q17(d)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    2 marks6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 17(d): Doppler ultrasound can be used to measure the speed of blood flow through blood vessels. The speed of ultrasound in blood is 1600 ms–1. A transducer emitting ul

  8. Q6(c)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    6 marks6.5.1 Using X-rays6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 6(c)(ii): A 3D object called a bolus is used in radiotherapy for patients with skin cancer. A bolus targets the maximum radiation dose near the surface of the skin. So us

  9. Q12

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 12: A small sample of muscle has volume 1.0 cm3 and mass 1.10 g. The speed of ultrasound in the muscle is 1600 m s–1. What is the acoustic impedance of the muscle?

  10. Q14

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 14: A beam of ultrasound is incident normally at a boundary between two tissues F and G. The table below shows some data on the two tissues. Tissue F Tissue G Densi

  11. Q1

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 1: The Doppler effect is used to measure the speed of blood flow in arteries. Which medical diagnostic method uses this technique? A barium scan B CAT scan C PET s

  12. Q16(a)

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    2 marks6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 16(a): In ultrasound scanning, explain what is meant by impedance (acoustic) matching and how it may be achieved. [2]

  13. Q16(b)

    November 2020 · Paper 2

    3 marks6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 2, question 16(b): There are several different types of ultrasound scanning techniques. Explain how an A-scan could be used to measure the thickness of a patient’s eye lens. You m

  14. Q24(a)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    2 marks6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 24(a): Explain how an ultrasound transducer can emit ultrasound. You do not need to describe the design of the transducer. [2]

  15. Q24(b)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    3 marks6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 24(b): Explain how the reflection of ultrasound at a boundary between two tissues depends on the physical properties of the tissues. [3]

  16. Q6(b)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    2 marks6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 6(b): Explain how ultrasound is used to measure the speed of blood flow in an artery. [2]

  17. Q12

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    1 mark6.5.3 Using ultrasound
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 12: The table shows some data on two tissues in a patient. Tissue Density Acoustic impedance X 1.5 Z ρ Y 1.3 ρ Z Ultrasound in tissue X is incident at the boundary
All 17 questions on Using ultrasound, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q15 (1 mark): Ultrasound scanning uses waves of a particular type and frequency. Which row of the table is correct for these waves? Type Frequency range A Longitudinal Up to
  2. June 2024, Paper 2, Q3 (1 mark): Which one of these non‑invasive medical scans does not expose the patient to ionising radiation? A CAT B PET C Ultrasound D X‑ray Your answer [1]
  3. June 2023, Paper 2, Q17(a) (2 marks): Explain what is meant by ultrasound. [2]
  4. June 2023, Paper 2, Q17(b) (6 marks): Ultrasound B-scans can be used to image unborn babies. (b)* Fig. 17.1 is a labelled photograph of an ultrasound examination of a patient. Fig. 17.1 transducer p
  5. June 2023, Paper 2, Q17(c)(i) (1 mark): Explain why no signal is received back from A. [1]
  6. June 2023, Paper 2, Q17(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why a greater signal is received back from B than C. [2]
  7. June 2023, Paper 2, Q17(d) (2 marks): Doppler ultrasound can be used to measure the speed of blood flow through blood vessels. The speed of ultrasound in blood is 1600 ms–1. A transducer emitting ul
  8. June 2023, Paper 3, Q6(c)(ii) (6 marks): A 3D object called a bolus is used in radiotherapy for patients with skin cancer. A bolus targets the maximum radiation dose near the surface of the skin. So us
  9. June 2022, Paper 2, Q12 (1 mark): A small sample of muscle has volume 1.0 cm3 and mass 1.10 g. The speed of ultrasound in the muscle is 1600 m s–1. What is the acoustic impedance of the muscle?
  10. November 2021, Paper 2, Q14 (1 mark): A beam of ultrasound is incident normally at a boundary between two tissues F and G. The table below shows some data on the two tissues. Tissue F Tissue G Densi
  11. November 2020, Paper 2, Q1 (1 mark): The Doppler effect is used to measure the speed of blood flow in arteries. Which medical diagnostic method uses this technique? A barium scan B CAT scan C PET s
  12. November 2020, Paper 2, Q16(a) (2 marks): In ultrasound scanning, explain what is meant by impedance (acoustic) matching and how it may be achieved. [2]
  13. November 2020, Paper 2, Q16(b) (3 marks): There are several different types of ultrasound scanning techniques. Explain how an A-scan could be used to measure the thickness of a patient’s eye lens. You m
  14. June 2019, Paper 2, Q24(a) (2 marks): Explain how an ultrasound transducer can emit ultrasound. You do not need to describe the design of the transducer. [2]
  15. June 2019, Paper 2, Q24(b) (3 marks): Explain how the reflection of ultrasound at a boundary between two tissues depends on the physical properties of the tissues. [3]
  16. June 2019, Paper 3, Q6(b) (2 marks): Explain how ultrasound is used to measure the speed of blood flow in an artery. [2]
  17. June 2018, Paper 2, Q12 (1 mark): The table shows some data on two tissues in a patient. Tissue Density Acoustic impedance X 1.5 Z ρ Y 1.3 ρ Z Ultrasound in tissue X is incident at the boundary

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