Yes, they can. But they're not that good at it. There are basically three variables in ultrasonic sterilization: frequency of the ultrasonic signal, untrasonic field intensity and exposure time. A frequency of about 25 kiloHertz works pretty well. Higher is not better. Lower and people can hear it. The other two variables are pretty much self-explanatory. Let's be clear about the fact that ultrasonic energy is not ionizing energy. It will not "break" chemical bonds in the normal sense. In sonochemistry, we see that ultrasonics have interesting effects on the rate of chemical reactions, but there are limits on what can be done. Let's look at mocroorganisms. Little critters have membranes around their "bodies" as such, and the ultrasonic cavitation acts on this. Actually the inner membrane (the cytoplasmic membrane) is usually the target. The miroorganism's lipoprotein bilayer is disrupted and the little critter dies. (The layer is torn, shredded or something like that - the exact nature of the disruption isn't clear.) Note that the cavitation damage to the vulnerable structures must be "extensive" enough to be fatal. A "little bit" of damage won't kill the microorganism. That's where the field intensity and the time of exposure come in. Make sense? It's not rocket science. Ultrasonic cavitation causes heat. That is a separate issue with ultrasonics as applied to "sterilization" (which cannot be achieved). Why use ultrasonics to heat something? Just autoclave it. Yes, ultrasonics can heat things really hot if field intensities and exposure times are long enough, but it isn't very cost effective. The use of ultrasonics to destroy microorganisms is usually considered out of a desire to avoid heating something. Ultrasonics won't kill a virus. The non-life forms have a "purely chemical" structure, and are unaffected by the direct application of ultrasonics. (Again, the heat issue is set aside. Focus on the ultrasonics.) Mold spores cannot be deactivated by ultrasonics. There are a lot of drawbacks to using ultrasonics to "clean" and to "sterilize" areas. It isn't all that good. But research is continuing. And Europe leads the league in the medical investigation of ultrasonics at last word.
Ultraviolet (UV) light waves are commonly used to kill harmful bacteria. UV light damages the DNA and RNA of microorganisms, preventing them from reproducing and causing them to die. UV light is often used in water treatment, air purifiers, and sterilization processes.
An autoclave effectively kills microorganisms by using high pressure and steam to reach temperatures above 250F (121C), which destroys the cell walls and proteins of the microorganisms, ultimately leading to their death.
Bats emit high-frequency ultrasonic sound waves that bounce off objects and return as echoes. By listening to these echoes, bats can determine the location, size, and shape of objects around them, helping them navigate and hunt in the dark.
Yes, hydrogen peroxide can effectively kill spores. It is a commonly used disinfectant that is effective against a wide range of microorganisms, including spores.
An antibiotic specifically refers to a substance produced by a microorganism that can kill or inhibit the growth of other microorganisms. On the other hand, an antimicrobial is a broader term that encompasses agents that can kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. So, all antibiotics are antimicrobials, but not all antimicrobials are antibiotics.
You break apart a kidney stone with ultrasonic waves.
whale can hear ultrasonic sound waves.
No ultrasonic waves are not a form of electromagnetic wave. Ultrasonic waves are nothing more than high frequency sound waves. They can be made with a suitable speaker or transducer.
The standard value of velocity of ultrasonic waves in benzene liquid is 1260 m/sec.
Ultrasonic waves can be produced in the laboratory using a device called an ultrasonic transducer. The transducer converts electrical energy into mechanical vibrations, which generate the ultrasonic waves. These waves can be used for various applications, including medical imaging, cleaning, and material testing.
Ultrasonic waves can be traced using ultrasonic sensors that emit the waves and then detect their reflections. These sensors send out high-frequency sound waves that bounce off objects and return to the sensor, allowing for measurement of distance, presence, or motion based on the time it takes for the waves to return. By analyzing the wave reflections, it is possible to trace the path and interactions of ultrasonic waves.
Sound waves- ultrasonic, sonic, or intrasonic are generally invisible. You cannot see sound.
No, ultrasonic waves will have difficulty passing through a 1cm thick iron plate due to the high density and thickness of the material. Iron is known to be a good reflector and attenuator of ultrasonic waves, making it an obstruction to their passage.
No, ultrasonic waves cannot be polarized because they are mechanical waves that propagate through a medium by vibration and compression, unlike electromagnetic waves which can be polarized due to their transverse nature.
No. They are mechanical waves, ultrasonic waves are sound waves and require a medium for propagation. The word ultrasonic denotes that they have a frequency above the audible range (above 20 KHz).
No, ultrasonic waves cannot knock people out. Inaudible ultrasonic waves are often used in medical imaging and cleaning processes, but they do not possess the ability to induce unconsciousness in humans.
i think we could because we hear the radio