PHY-105 Physics of Sound
An introductory course in physics for students who have not had high school physics, designed for non-science majors. This is a required course for music majors as well as Music Recording Technology majors. Emphasizes: Scientific method, measurement, laboratory proficiency. Topics include vibrations, transverse and longitudinal waves, sound waves, superposition of waves, standing waves, harmonic analysis, mathematical elements of the Pythagorean and modern scales, the production of musical sounds, hearing, sound measurement, fundamentals of microphones and speakers, elements of acoustic architecture. This fulfills the laboratory science requirements for non-science degrees. This course carries SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) credit.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Apply arithmetic, algebra, and geometric principles to the analysis of the physical properties of sound.
- Identify, analyze, and evaluate sound wave experiments; and develop well-reasoned arguments and conclusions from the analysis of the data.
- Articulate how waves are produced, measured, and combined to create music.
- Connect the description of musical quality to the science of wave forms.