Chapter 2: Basics
Sections A, B, C, D, and E.
Basics: Work and EnergyVarious physics concepts and definitions needed for the study of sound, acoustics and musical instruments are presented.
Basics: The Molecular Basis of MatterThis simulation shows particles interacting with a slight attraction which will cause them to stay connected with each other to form a a solid at low temperature. But if they have enough thermal energy they will begin to move around each other to act like liquid. Additional thermal energy causes them to act like a gas.
Chapter 3: Vibrations
Sections A and B.
VibrationsAll sound starts with something that vibrates. The reed in a clarinet vibrates, the vocal cords in a singer's throat vibrate, the air flowing over the mouthpiece of a flute oscillates, and the speaker cone on your stereo or in an ear-bud vibrates. In this chapter we investigate a particular kind of vibration called simple harmonic motion.
Chapter 4: Resonance
Sections A, B and C.
ResonanceResonance occurs in an oscillating system when the driving frequency happens to equal the natural frequency. For this special case the amplitude of the motion becomes a maximum. An example is trying to push someone on a swing so that the swing gets higher and higher. If the frequency of the push equals the natural frequency of the swing, the motion gets bigger and bigger. Resonance is a key concept in the production of sound in instruments and in acoustics and we will come across it many times.
Resonance SpringsThis simulation shows five different masses, each attached to a spring of the same stiffness. The springs are mounted on a mechanical device that shakes the springs and attached masses.
Quality FactorMany systems, including musical instruments, have a wide range of frequencies at which the system will resonate. We study how this range depends on the damping coefficient.