Sonic cavitation

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Sonic cavitation occurs when ultrasound waves passing through a liquid cause the formation of bubbles, a phenomenon known as cavitation. Because a sound wave periodically compresses and decompresses a liquid, cavitation can be produced in the low-pressure part of the cycle when the sound intensity/amplitude is high enough.

Examples of sonic cavitation include the sonicating water baths used to clean instruments and jewelry, as well as the laboratory technique sonication, used to emulsify mixtures or lyse cells.