Physics: The Physics of Music

Basic physical principles underlying the production, transmission and perception of musical sound. Vibrations, waves, elementary acoustics with applications to a wide range of musical topics. Prerequisite: High school algebra.

Prereqs: High school algebra Open to degree and PACE students

Music is a special and wonderful manifestation of sound. In this course we will investigate the nature of musical sound from a physicist's perspective. We will start by learning the language and concepts that physicists use to describe vibrations, waves and sound. This language describes how sound is created, how it moves and how it is perceived by the human ear. We can use this language as a basis for discussion about music and musical instruments and to answer questions such as: How do we hear sound? What is the difference between music (pleasant sounds) and noise (unpleasant sounds)? What makes the sound of different musical instruments distinct from each other? Once we have mastered the basic concepts, we will look at the acoustic characteristics of wide variety of musical instruments, including bells, viols, reeds, drums, human voices, and organ pipes, to see how these instruments work and to see what makes each of their musical tones distinctive and unique. We will also touch on the acoustic properties of concert halls and auditoriums, to identify the characteristics of a good room as opposed to a bad one.

Students in Physics 1100 will be expected to participate in in-class quizzes, turn in regular homework sets, and collaborate in a group project, to be completed by the end of the semester. There will be a required text: Musical Acoustics, 3rd Edition, by Donald Hall. Also, students will be required to bring an internet enabled device to class each meeting.

Grades will be based in, in decreasing weight, by performance on the final exam, a single midterm exam, Homework Sets, final project and class participation.