How does frequency affect the speed of sound in a medium?

The speed of sound in a medium is determined primarily by the properties of the medium itself, such as its density and elasticity, rather than the frequency of the sound wave. In a given medium, sound waves will travel at a constant speed if temperature and other physical conditions remain unchanged.

This means that variations in frequency do not affect the speed at which sound travels; instead, frequency affects other characteristics of sound waves, such as pitch. In different media, sound may propagate at different speeds, but once a specific medium is determined, the speed remains constant regardless of frequency changes.

Understanding this concept is essential for cardiac sonographers, as it allows them to perform echocardiographic assessments accurately, knowing that the frequency they use for ultrasound waves will not affect the speed at which the waves travel through the tissue, but rather can influence the resolution and depth of imaging.