What term describes the redirection of sound waves equally in all directions?

The term that describes the redirection of sound waves equally in all directions is known as Rayleigh scattering. This phenomenon occurs when sound waves encounter small particles that are comparable in size to the wavelength of the sound. As a result, the sound waves scatter in a variety of directions, and this scattering is typically uniform, meaning it is equally distributed.

Rayleigh scattering is particularly important in various applications, including ultrasound imaging, where it can affect how sound waves interact with different tissues. This uniform redirection can contribute to the overall understanding of how images are generated in sonography, as well as influence the interpretation of the echo signals received.

The other terms refer to different types of interactions with sound waves: diffuse reflection involves scattering sound off of rough surfaces, specular reflection pertains to the reflection off smooth surfaces where the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, and transmission refers to the passage of sound waves through a medium without considering redirection. Hence, Rayleigh scattering is the most accurate term to describe the equal redirection of sound waves in all directions.