Physics 103 Acoustical
Foundations of Music
Text: Physics and the Sound of Music, 2nd edition, John S. Rigden
Instructor: Dr. Matt Marone Room 112
Willet Science Center
Phone 301-2597, e-mail: marone_mj@mercer.edu
Office Hours: MW 1:00-1:50, outside of
these hours by appointment
Lecture: Section
101 MWF 11:00-11:50, Room 101 WSC
Section 202 MWF 2-2:50, Room 106 WSC (Starts 10/13)
Laboratory: all
sections T/R 1:40-2:55, Room 107 WSC
Prerequisite: SCI 105
General:
Physics and music, a strange mixture? We will examine music and sound from a
scientific point of view. Our
discussion will be one of waves and frequencies, as well as notes and
scales. By the end of the class you
will think of music in a different way.
You will be familiar with sound waves, propagation of sound, frequency,
harmonics, waves on strings and in tubes, effects dues to the listening
environment, perception and synthesis
of music. This is not an intensely
mathematical course, but some algebra is required. We shall encounter logarithms, for example, in our study of
loudness. You should have a calculator
capable of calculating logarithms (log, ln) and raising numbers to a power (Yx). Keep in mind that this is a physics class
and we will approach music from a scientific point of view.
Grades:
Your Final class grade will be derived from the following percentages
Average of 2 Tests (55%)
In-class Quiz (15%)
Laboratory Experiments (30%)
You will not be graded on a “curve”.
Electronic Submission of Assignments: No e-mail with attachments will be accepted.
Students bear sole responsibility for ensuring that papers or assignments submitted electronically to a professor are received in a timely manner and in the electronic format(s) specified by the professor. Students are therefore obliged to have their e-mail client issue a receipt verifying that the document has been received. Students are also strongly advised to retain a copy of the dated submission on a separate disk. Faculty members are encouraged, but not required, to acknowledge receipt of the assignment
Tests: Make-up exams will only be given to students with valid excuses as defined by the university handbook (illness, emergency, class trips with prior notification). The make-up exam may be harder or easier than the regular in-class exam. Any disputes concerning a test grade must be resolved within one week from the time the tests are returned or from the time the grades are made known to the class. Any grade disputes after this time limit will not be considered under any circumstances. Partial credit will be awarded depending how many steps were done correctly in a multi-step problem. The amount of credit will be at the discretion of the instructor. No equation sheets are permitted. A list of useful equations and constant will be provided with the test. This list will be drawn from the important equations found in the chapter. You should learn all of the important equations and not rely on the equation sheet.
Quizzes: There will be a 5-10 minute quiz every week unless interrupted by a test. This quiz will cover any material discussed in class up to that point of time. Make-up quizzes are subject to the same conditions as make-up tests. The Quiz will usually be on Friday. It may be necessary to change the day and the change will be announced.
Final Exam: The final exam may include any material discussed in class.
Make-up exams will be subject to the same conditions as make-up tests.
Honor code: You are bound by the Mercer honor code. The
College’s academic misconduct policy will be followed. All work, for which a grade is received,
must be the original work of the student without aid or assistance of
another party, or any printed and or electronic data/information. Academic
misconduct cases will be referred to the honor council and the student will
automatically receive a grade of incomplete (IC) pending a ruling by the honor
council.
Cell Phone and Pager Usage: Out of courtesy for all those participating in the learning experience, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off before entering any classroom, lab, or formal academic or performance event
Classroom etiquette: You are expected to
conduct yourself as a mature student, respectful of your classmates and
instructor. You may be asked to leave
the room if your behavior is disturbing the instructor or your fellow students.
Please do not eat in class. I do not
mind if you drink, without drawing attention to yourself. Please do not sleep
in class, you will be asked to leave.
Documented Disability Statement:
Students with a documented
disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class
meeting. The instructor will refer you
to the office of Student Support Services (SSS) for consultation regarding
evaluation, documentation of your disability, and recommendations for
accommodation, if needed. Students will
receive from SSS the Faculty Accommodation Form. On this form SSS will identify reasonable
accommodations for this class. The form
must be given to the course instructor for signature and then returned to SSS.
To take full advantage of
disability services, it is recommended that students contact the Office of
Student Support Services, immediately.
The office is located on the third floor of the Connell Student Center.
Material To Be Covered
(Tentative)
Ch. 1 Physics of Music
Ch. 2 Origin of Musical Sound
Ch. 3 Transmission of Musical Sound
Ch. 4 Perception of Pure Tone
Ch. 5 Superposition of Vibrations
Ch. 6 Superposition of Waves
Ch. 7 Perception of Two Pure Tones
Ch. 8 Origin of Complex tones, Strings, Tubes and Membranes
Ch. 10 Transmission of Complex Tones
Ch.
13 Perception of Music
Note: We will not
cover every section of these chapters, but only get a “flavor” of each topic.
Experiments (Tentative)
1)
Sounds
of Music
2)
How
Loud is it?
3)
Soda
Bottle Speaker
4)
Waves
on a String
5)
Waves
in Tubes
6)
Palm
Pipes
7)
Seeing
Nodes-Chladni Plates