Instructor: B H Suits, Fisher 105.
Text: There is no required text. Many, but not all, of the topics covered can be found in the book "Measured Tones, 2nd Ed." by Ian Johnston (IOP Publishing, 2002), ISBN 0 7503 0762 5 , which you can get from any good quality book vender.
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Physics concepts and methods associated with musical instruments, musical recording, and musical acoustics are discussed at an introductory level. Topics which can be expected include periodic motion, normal modes and resonance, superposition and Fourier series, waves, sound and acoustics, magnetism and electromagnetic induction, and topics from non-linear physics.
Prerequisite: Calculus ready
For the most up-to-date catalog copy, go to the MTU Catalog
If you need to be absent (for "excusable" reasons) contact your instructor to make up the missed work. If possible, make arrangements ahead of time. See the MTU student handbook section on policies for examples of excused absences.
In Class Problems:
During most classes there will be a few problems for you to do which are handed in at the end of class and which are graded. You are encouraged to ask for help, consult others, etc., to successfully complete these problems.
Extra Examples on Canvas:
Extra examples for some of the more challenging problems are included on Canvas. These are recorded solutions with commentary. You are encouraged to view all of these, even if you think you know how to do these problems -- you might gain some extra insight or discover a simpler way to do the problems.
Homework Problems:
Homework problems are at www.courses.mtu.edu (Canvas) and are available for about 4 days after the corresponding lecture. You may consult others, your notes, ask questions, etc., to successfully complete these problems. Note, however that very similar problems will appear on the exams and you will not be allowed notes, consultation, etc., for the exams. These are graded.
Practice problems will be also available on the course pages for additional study. Self-tests are provided for your convenience and are very similar to the homework but are not graded. Note that similar problems may appear on the hour and final exams so these are a good resource for exam study. You will also find practice exam problems in a separate folder as a pdf file. These are a slightly different format, but provide additional practice.
Hour and Final Exams:
There are two hour exams and a final. The hour exams take the place of a normal class period. Consult MTU's final exam schedule for the time and location for the 2 hour comprehensive final.
No notes, consultation, etc., are allowed for the exams. Please study accordingly.
The questions on the exams closely resemble those from the homework and self-tests, both in content and in format.
Your course grade will be based on the combination of your scores for problems* from each class, the hour exams, and final exam grades with the following weights:
| Sum of all problems* (as a percentage) | 1/3 |
| Hour exam 1 | 1/6 |
| Hour exam 2 | 1/6 |
| Final Exam (out of 100) | 1/3 |
There is no "curve" of any kind. (That is, it is possible for everyone to get an A ...).
You can estimate your letter grade using the following scheme:
| A | 87-100 | C | 68-71 | |
| AB | 81-86 | CD | 64-67 | |
| B | 76-80 | D | 60-63 | |
| BC | 72-75 | F | 0-59 |
(This is for use as a guideline only, minor adjustments to this scheme may be made when final grades are assigned.)
* "Problems" includes the in class problems and the online homework problems. Please also note that for the problems, which are open notes, etc., scores greater than 90% are normal and are expected.
Some grades will be visible to you by clicking on the "Grades" tool at the course page at www.courses.mtu.edu. The "Midterm Grade," when and if present, is a progress grade used only for first year students and is only to provide an estimate of current progress. It has no other meaning or function.
If you are an official auditor, please let the instructor know. There is a grade associated with an audit (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory). If you care about that grade, you will need to find out what you need to do. You will not automatically get a Satisfactory grade.
| Week | Topics |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Course What is Music? Where did it come from? What can be studied using methods of the Physicist? Units/basic definitions Periodic sounds: Frequency/Period/Pitches |
| 2 | Musical Notes, Chords, and Scales Musical Intervals, Dissonance, Beats Chords and Scales, Logarithms |
| 3 |
Combinations of Modes (Superposition, Fourier Series) Some simple mechanics (F = ma) and periodic motion |
| 4 |
Resonance Driven mass on spring, Quality factor Other simple oscillators Pendulums, Helmholtz resonator, Ocarina, |
| 5 | More Complex systems and "Normal Modes" Xylophone Bars and Tubular Chimes Real Strings (and why piano tuning is an art) Drum Head (demo and computer simulation), Church Bells Traveling Waves (in 1-d) |
| 6 | Attack and Release of pitches Strike tones and other non-resonant noises "Uncertainty Principle" (EXAM I) |
| 7 | Non-linear Systems "Simple" model for a clarinet, bowed string ("self-driven" systems) Interesting solutions of non-linear physics problems The ascending/descending Chinese Gong Start of ideal gases. Atoms, Molecules, Phases of Matter Pressure, Temperature, Volume, Gas Laws |
| 8 | Ideal Gases Microscopic and macroscopic "pictures" Sound as a (longitudinal) pressure wave Speed of Sound |
| 9 | Loudness (decibels) Coupling of sound between instruments and Air Acoustic Impedance How much sound gets out? Intensity vs distance Wave Propagation in 2- and 3-d |
| 10 | Room Acoustics reverberation time Reflection/Absorption Auditoriums vs. Recording Studios Corner Reflectors |
| 11 | Room Acoustics con't Constructive and Destructive Interference Dispersal of waves as an alternative to absorption Review for Exam (EXAM II) |
| 12 | Musical Electronics Magnetic Fields and Faraday's Law of Induction Microphones, Speakers, Guitar Pick-ups Electric Fields and Capacitance Microphones RC Time Constants |
| 13 | Musical Electronics (con't) Cables and Shielding Audio Recording Methods Magnetic recording, optical recording. A to D and D to A (what is it?) |
| 14 | Special Effects, Electronic Music Review for Final |
| - | FINAL EXAM |
General Learning Goals: For areas of physics and music which overlap, students will know and recognize the basic lexicon (definitions, vocabulary, etc), be able to distinguish between measured and perceived quantities, will know basic relationships between quantities for the basic core physics models, and be able to use all of the above to perform simple computations of relevance to music production, performance, and recording.
This course also supports students in achieving University Student Learning Goal #2: Knowledge of the Physical and Natural World. Specific student competencies for this goal can be found under the link for Goal #2 here: http://www.mtu.edu/assessment/program/university-learning-goals/
MTU complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for equal access to education or services at MTU, please call the Associate Dean of Students at 487-2212. For other concerns about discrimination, you may contact your advisor, department chair, or the Affirmative Action office.