my physics is rusty after about 1/2 yr, so please bear with me...
-describe the Doppler effect in sound waves and how it is used in ultrasonics to obtain flow characteristics of blood moving through the heart
the Doppler Effect is the effect of the apparent change in wavelength or frequency of sound waves from a source as that source moves uniformally relative to a stationary observer.
how it is used in ultrasonics: projected ultrasound waves are reflected off moving red blood cells that 'changes' the wavelength or frequency of that original ultrasound. this new wavelength is recieved and compared with the original wavelength. the discrepancies calculate the value of red blood cell's velocity at that point. obtaining multiple velocities would help us to obtain blood flow characteristics.
-outline some cardiac problems that can be detected through the use of the Doppler effect
usually heart disease - pretty much any other cardiovascular disease that involves the impedenece of the flow of blood (e.g. can analyse if there are blood clots, perhaps other abnormal blood flow, etc...
hope this helps, M.D.