Physics 332 Physics of Music
& Music Reproduction
Syllabus Autumn 2002
Instructor: Prof. Charles E. Hyde-Wright
Web Page: http://www.physics.odu.edu/~hyde/chw.htm
Office Rm. 215 Oceanography and Physical Science Building
Office Phone 683-5853 You may also call the Physics Dept secretary at 683-3468 and ask to page me.
Research Laboratory Rm. 112 Nuclear & Particle Physics Research Facility
1021 W. 47th St. (683-5853).
Lecture Rm. 146 Oceanography and Physical Science Building
Class Schedule Tue. & Thurs. 1:30 – 14:45 pm
Office Hours Thurs. 11:00 - 11:50 am
Final Exam Dec. 12, 2002, 12:30 – 3:30 pm, Rm 146 OCNPS
Text The Physics of Sound, R.E. Berg and D.G. Stork (required)
Library Reserve The Physics of Musical Instruments, Neville H. Fletcher, Thomas D. Rossing
The Acoustical Foundations of Music, John G. Backus
The Physics and Psychophysics of Music, J.G. Roederer
Physics and the
Sound of Music, John Rigden
Prerequisites Knowledge of basic algebra, and interest in physical basis of sound and music.
This course is designed to provide an introduction to the physical principles underlying music and sound. Specific topics for this semester include:
Physical & mathematical attributes of music and sound.
Acoustics of musical instruments and concert halls.
Electronic generation and recording of sound.
Neuro-physiology of sound perception.
From these topics, our goal is to achieve a better appreciation of the connections between acoustics and aesthetics, and how physical principals describe the natural world in general, and music in particular.
Grades: Grades will be based on class attendance and participation, homework, a written and oral report, and the final exam.
Class Participation: 20 %
Lab Assignments 25 %
Project:
Proposal 5 %
Draft Report 10 %
Final report 10 %
Oral report 10 %
Final Exam 20 %
Total 100%
Lectures: Lectures
will generally be on Tuesday.
Attendance is mandatory. Please
do the assigned reading before class
Lab: Each Thursday there will be a laboratory assignment. Please read the assignment before coming to class. Lab writeups are due Tuesday, 12 days after the lab. Your lab assignments may include additional homework assignments. Your lab writeup should include a description of your methods, your raw data, and a discussion of results and conclusions. You will be graded primarily for clarity of presentation.
Final Project: You are expected to complete a research project. Your project should include both library research and experimental measurements. I am willing to help you find equipment and other source materials. Examples:
Acoustics of your favorite musical instrument
Measurement and Description of noise sources
Comparison of acoustics of different classrooms or concert rooms at ODU.
Alternative Musical Scales & Tuning Schemes.
Comparison of trees or sound walls for attenuating freeway noise.
Measure a resonance or impedance curve of either a simple oscillator or a music instrument (or a simple model of an instrument).
Build and analyze a simple copy of a music instrument.
Measure velocity of falling pumpkin with Doppler shift.
Synthesize your favorite instrument on the computer.
Your choice...Look for ideas in Physics of Music books in library.
Final Project: A 1-2 page project proposal is due Thurs Oct 3. Your proposal should briefly present your topic and describe what materials and methods you propose to use. I will grade it on the basis of clarity and feasibility. A written status report is due Thurs. Nov 14. I will grade it and make suggestions for revisions, improvements and return it to you by Tue. Nov. 19. Grading of the status report will be based on clarity and whether your project appears to be on track for completion by Dec 5. Your final written report is due Thurs. Dec 5. You will also give an oral report in class, Dec. 3 or 5. Your oral report should be approx. 10 minutes long. Groups of up to 3 may collaborate on a common project. Each student must submit separate reports, and each student must give a separate oral report.
Course
Schedule & Reading Assignment
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Date |
Chapter |
Description |
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(Berg) |
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27, 29Aug. |
1 |
Sources of Sound & Music |
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Simple Harmonic Motion |
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3,5 Sep. |
2 |
Sound, Waves, & Vibrations. |
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|
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|
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10, 12 Sep. |
3 |
Traveling & Standing Waves |
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17, 19 Sep. |
4 |
Frequency Analysis and Synthesis of Sound |
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Pure Tones, Complex Tones, and Noise |
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24, 26 Sep. |
6 |
The Human Ear |
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|
|
|
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1, 3 Oct. |
6 |
The Human Vocal Tract |
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3 Oct. |
Project |
Project Proposals Due |
|
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8, 10 Oct. |
7 |
Sound Recording and Reproduction |
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12-15 Oct |
Holiday |
Columbus Day Holiday |
|
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17 Oct. |
8 |
Auditorium Acoustics |
|
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22, 24 Oct. |
9 |
Musical Temperament, Pitch, Scales |
|
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29, 31 Oct. |
10 |
Wind Instruments: Woodwinds |
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5, 7 Nov. |
11 |
Wind Instruments: Brass |
|
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12, 14 Nov. |
12 |
Bowed & Plucked Strings |
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14 Nov. |
Project |
Final Project Update Due. |
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19, 21 Nov. |
13 |
Piano |
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26 Nov |
14 |
Percussion Instruments. |
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27 Nov.-Dec1 |
Holiday |
Thanksgiving Holiday (Wed- Sun) |
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3, 5 Dec. |
Project |
Final Project Oral Reports. |
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5. Dec. |
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End of Classes Written project reports due. |
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Thurs. 12 Dec. |
Final Exam |
12:30-3:30 pm, OCNPS Rm. 146. |
Lab Schedule (Preliminary)
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Date
|
Lab
|
Description
|
|
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29 Aug. |
1 |
Sound and simple vibrations |
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5 Sep. |
2 |
Waves on String |
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12 Sep. |
3 |
Sound Resonance in Tube |
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19 Sep. |
4 |
Beats |
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26 Sep. |
5 |
Audio Demos, filtered speech |
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3 Oct. |
6 |
Water waves in Beakers |
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10 Oct. |
7 |
Sound Resonance in Box |
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17 Oct. |
8 |
Chaldni Plates or Diehn Hall |
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24 Oct. |
9 |
PVC Tube Instruments |
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29 Oct |
10 |
Pumpkin Drop Doppler |
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7 Nov |
1 |
Brass |
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14 Nov. |
12 |
Electric Guitar pickup |
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21 Nov |
|
TBA |