Acoustics (Level 11) (P01255)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : PHY-P-Acou

An introductory course on audible acoustic waves in air. The first six weeks of the course consist of twelve lectures. The basic theory of sound waves is reviewed and applied to a discussion of plane waves in pipes. The principles of microphone and loudspeaker technology are outlined. A brief study of the response of the human ear to sound leads to a review of methods of evaluating the loudness of different types of sound. The lectures conclude with surveys of two areas of great practical importance: the measurement of environmental noise and the study of the acoustical properties of rooms and concert halls.

In the remaining weeks of the semester, each student takes part in two group projects. The first involves site visits to local concert halls and other interior spaces to measure and analyse reverberant sound; the second is concerned with the recording and evaluation of noise. Near the end of the semester, there is a class conference, in which the projects are presented and discussed. Each student writes a report on the two projects. Each student is also required to write an essay on an aspect of the course syllabus to be agreed with the Course Organiser.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : PGs only.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Postgraduate (School of Physics), (School of Physics, Schedule Q)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	12:10	13:00	KB
Lecture	Friday	12:10	13:00	KB

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course it is intended that a student will be able to:
1)demonstrate familiarity with the three-dimensional linear acoustic wave equation, understanding and explaining the assumptions and approximations made in its derivation
2)write down expressions representing plane and spherical sound waves, and show that they are solutions of the acoustic wave equation
3)define specific acoustic impedance, and derive the specific acoustic impedance for plane and spherical sound waves
4)discuss the propagation of plane waves in cylindrical pipes, including branching pipes, and derive formulae giving the reflection and transmission coefficients at a discontinuity in a cylindrical pipe
5)describe the scientific principles, basic technology and performance of common types of microphone and loudspeaker
6)outline the general features of the response of the human ear, explaining what is meant by equal loudness contours, critical bands, and masking, and defining Sound Pressure Level, the phon scale of Loudness Level and the sone scale of Loudness
7)define the reverberation time and the absorption of a hall, and state and use a formula giving the
reverberation time as a function of the volume and the absorption of the hall
8)discuss the major parameters other than reverberation time which determine the musical quality of a concert hall
9)calibrate and use a sound level meter to measure noise levels in a variety of environments
10)measure and comment on the reverberation times at standard frequencies in a variety of acoustic spaces