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In an A-scan display, what does the x-axis represent?

  1. The frequency of the sound wave

  2. The amplitude of the reflected wave

  3. The time it takes for the sound wave to travel

  4. The depth of the material being tested

The correct answer is: The time it takes for the sound wave to travel

In an A-scan display, the x-axis represents the time it takes for the sound wave to travel through the material being tested. This measurement of time is directly associated with the distance that the sound wave has traveled, allowing the user to infer the depth of features or flaws within the material. When a sound wave is sent into a material, it travels until it hits a boundary, and the time it takes for the wave to return to the transducer is plotted against time. Since sound travels at a known velocity, this time can be translated into a distance, which is critical for interpreting the location of defects or interfaces within the material. Thus, the A-scan provides a direct and informative representation of subsurface features based on the return time of the sound wave.