Free online courseUltrasound Physics for Radiology: Fundamentals, Doppler and Artifacts

Course Description

Learn the core physics behind diagnostic ultrasound with this free online course designed for radiology and medical imaging learners who want a clear, practical foundation. You will build intuition from the basics of sound waves and the acoustic spectrum through the key relationships between wavelength, frequency, period, and propagation speed, helping you understand how image formation begins at the level of wave behavior.

Progress into essential quantitative concepts such as pressure, intensity, and the decibel scale, then connect them to pulse echo parameters used every day in ultrasound systems. Explore acoustic impedance and how it drives reflection, refraction, scattering, and attenuation as ultrasound interacts with tissue, shaping image quality and influencing what you can and cannot see.

Go deeper into how transducers work, including piezoelectric principles, matching layers, damping, and practical probe design, then see how these components support common imaging modes such as A, B, and M mode. You will also learn how time gain compensation and beam behavior affect brightness, penetration, and detail.

Develop a strong grasp of resolution tradeoffs, including axial, lateral, elevational, and temporal resolution, plus beam focusing, steering, and spatial compounding. Round out the course with Doppler fundamentals, angle correction, continuous versus pulsed wave approaches, spectral Doppler interpretation, and common pitfalls such as aliasing. Finish by understanding tissue harmonic imaging, common ultrasound artifacts, and safety concepts related to thermal and mechanical indices, so you can scan and interpret with more confidence.