Syllabus for Fall 2016 Elements of Acoustics and Vibration (updated August 23, 2016), p.

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Acoustics (ACS) 501

Elements of Acoustics and Vibration (3 credits)

Fall 2016

Instructor:
Office:
E-mail:
Telephone:
WWW:

V. Sparrow
201C Applied Science Bldg.
vws1@psu.edu
865-6364, FAX 865-3119
http://www.acs.psu.edu/users/sparrow/homepage.html [needs to be fixed]

This course introduces the fundamentals of acoustics and vibration, focusing on structural vibration
and sound waves in simple objects such as mass-spring systems, strings, rods, and plates. The
fundamental concepts of vibration are presented along with applications to engineering and industrial
problems. Both wave propagation and modal perspectives are discussed. Topics covered: simple
harmonic oscillator; mechanical resonance and damping; forced vibration and normal modes;
transverse waves on strings; boundary conditions and standing waves; elasticity; longitudinal,
torsional, and transverse vibration of bars; transverse vibrations of membranes; and flexural vibrations
of thin plates. Further, since this is one of the courses that the Ph.D. candidacy examination in
Acoustics is based upon, some basic physics is reviewed that may be helpful for preparing for that
exam.
Course title:
This course is ACS 501. In some previous semesters it was taught as a special topics ACS 597 class
while the permanent number was undergoing revision. You might see the course name or identifier
ACS 597 accidentally slip into the current class notes sometime this semester.
Class meetings:
Class meets in the Applied Science Building, Room 214, Mondays and Wednesdays (MW) from 1:15
PM to 2:30 PM with make up classes on Fridays (F) from 1:15 PM to 2:30 PM. There will be
approximately 29 classes (We lose one class to Labor Day). Sparrow will be traveling during the
semester, so some classes will need to be held on Fridays to make up for the dates lost on either
Mondays or Wednesdays. You will be reminded of these exceptions ahead of time. A best guess
schedule will be distributed.
These are the main classes and are video streamed for live participation for distance education (DE)
students. Archives of these video-streamed classes can also be watched by all students after the live
classes are over.
Optional office hours:
An optional office hour (OOH) will also be held in the evening about every other week. Usually these
will be held on Thursday evenings at a time like 9 PM Eastern, but Tuesday at a time like 9 PM
Eastern may also be used. The class OOH start times will be set to maximize student and instructor
participation.
This live office hour will be jointly held for both in-residence and distance education students. The
purpose of these office hours is to give all students the opportunity to ask questions, go over
homework, and give examples to reinforce the material presented in class. No new material will be
presented, but it is thought that this value-added enrichment experience will be a benefit for everyone

Syllabus for Fall 2016 Elements of Acoustics and Vibration (updated August 23, 2016), p. 2 of 8

participating. Again, participation is completely optional. The optional office hours are also videoarchived for individuals who cannot participate live.
Expectations for optional office hours:
It is expected that students will keep up with the class, and will ask lots of questions. Particularly, the
material discussed in the office hour will focus on the material presented in the regular classes the
previous week. Distance education students using the video archives extensively should insure they
have seen the previous weeks classes to be ready for the optional office hour.
1st optional office hour:
Will be Thursday Aug. 25 at 9 PM Eastern Time.
Class prerequisites:

Undergraduate physics
Undergraduate differential equations
Complex numbers

Who can participate in the class:

Any student who wishes to participate in the class needs to show up on Sparrows official registration
sheet.
Students who wish to take the class for AUDIT credit instead of full credit are welcome to do so. A
student auditing the class is not required to do the class homework or participate in the course tests and
exams, but they are welcome to do so. Some students have done this in previous semesters. Resident
studetns who are auditors need to register in person. See
http://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/academicprocedures/procedures4
and look under Graduate Credits.
Students who are taking the class for AUDIT credit need to come to class regularly or (DE)
attend live classes regularly (at least 80% of the time) since the grade is based only on class
attendance.
Please note the Graduate Degree Programs Bulletin also states A graduate student is
considered full-time if registered for a minimum of 9 credits, excluding courses taken for audit.
Sparrows interpretation is that for a usual half-time assistantship you should take 9 credits of
something else (research or other credit classes) along with this course (3 audit credits). See
http://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/academicprocedures/procedures5 and look under Credit Loads
and Academic Status.
Class notes and white space:
Partial class notes will be provided ahead of time for each lecture, about 10 minutes before class
begins. Look for these on the class web site on CANVAS.
One thing different about this class compared to some other Acoustics Program classes is that we the
class notes will have large gaps in them that we will fill in during class. This is to help you learn better
by your writing down some portions of the equations and other important relationships. If you miss
something written down, you will always be able to rewind and go back after the fact on the video
archive and see what you missed. Sparrows philosophy for this particular class is that if you cant
write it down, you dont understand it. The usual case will be that only skeleton notes will be
provided ahead of time. Students are encouraged to write things down. Sparrow will provide more

Syllabus for Fall 2016 Elements of Acoustics and Vibration (updated August 23, 2016), p. 3 of 8

complete notes ahead of time at appropriate times during the semester when writing things down gets
in the way of learning.
Books:
Required book 1: Fundamentals of Acoustics, 4th Ed. Lawrence E. Kinsler et al., Wiley, 2000. ISBN:
0471847895
Required book 2: Wave Motion in Elastic Solids, Karl F. Graff, Dover Publications, 1991. ISBN
0486667456
Inspiration & Course Resources:
This course covers materials that are very basic to the study of acoustics, and we are fortunate that
there are a number of resources that can supplement the in-class presentations. These resources have
been created by a number of educators in acoustics and physics. Here are a few:
Dr. Sparrows animations page:
http://www.acs.psu.edu/users/sparrow/animations.html [needs
updated]
Dr. Dan Russells demos page: http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/demos.html

Rough Outline:
Number of lectures
-----1
1.5
3
2
3
2
1.5
.5
2
1.5
1.5
2
1.5
1.5
1.5
Grading:

Topic
-----Getting organized
Math and physics review
One DOF oscillators
Multiple DOF systems
Strings
Elasticity
Longitudinal waves in rods/beams
Torsional waves in rods/beams
Bending waves in rods/beams
Rectangular membranes
Circular membranes
Plates
Sound radiation from walls
Demonstrations
Review and discussion

7 Homeworks, (5% each)

3 Tests, (15% each)
Final Exam

35%
45%
20%
_________
100%

Keep all of your assignments until after the semester is over. In the unlikely case that Dr. Sparrows
computer dies, you would be asked to produce all of your graded assignments so that your grade can
be assigned.

Syllabus for Fall 2016 Elements of Acoustics and Vibration (updated August 23, 2016), p. 4 of 8

Test and Exam policies:

You will have to memorize some basic relationships in this course. Since ACS 501 forms the basis of
many higher-level courses in acoustics at Penn State, there are some basic equations you should know
without having to look them up in a book. As a result . . .
The three tests (1.25 hours each) are closed book/note tests. Complicated specific formulae will be
provided. The final exam is open book, open note, etc.
Pop quizzes may also be given occasionally, but do not count toward your grade. They are to help you
keep up with the course.
Resident students at University Park take their tests in class. Distance Education students take their
tests by way of proctors. Proctors are local personnel authorized by the Graduate Program in
Acoustics to administer tests and exams. If you are a distance education student, you need a proctor.
Please see Ms. Kris Popovich (cxp23@psu.edu) about obtaining an appropriate proctor. You will need
to have this person agreed upon prior to the 1st test.
The final exam will be given in the PSU designated time slot during finals week. No one can take the
tests or final exam early.
Pursuant to University policy, Dr. Sparrow keeps your final exam since all other course submissions
(homeworks and tests) are handed back. The final exams are not handed back to keep a record of your
work for a limited time. However, after the University holiday break you can request to look at your
final exam.
Things to remember about the remote submission of homework and tests: Note that to send a clear
scan or FAX of pencil written paper it is helpful to send a clear, dark photocopy of the assignment,
rather than the original pencil written paper. Also, please put your name and page numbers on each
page of all assignments.
Homework policies:
The homework grader for this class will be Mr. Trevor Jerome. He is highly qualified, and Sparrow
looks forward to working with him. His E-mail address is twj115@psu.edu . He may help with some
lectures and/or proctor some of the tests.
Homework solutions need to be scanned into a PDF file and uploaded to CANVAS for grading. This
applies for both resident and distance education students. Some homeworks will be graded
electronically, and this relies on your using the PDF format. If you have any questions, please ask.
Please photocopy pencil written homeworks to make them sufficiently dark prior to scanning including
your name and page number on each page before submission. So please check your PDF file to ensure
that it is readable by the grader.
Homeworks are due at the Beginning of Class (BOC), and come roughly once every 2 weeks.
Additional homework and grading policies:
(For the most part, these are copied directly from the policies of Dean Anthony Atchley)

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The goal of homework problems is to test a students understanding of the concepts presented in
lectures and contained in the course notes and reading assignments. As such, solving the assigned
problems constitutes a major learning objective of this course. While solving the problems
independently will maximize the learning experience, this is not a requirement. Students may work
together to solve the problems. Also, students may refer to any available resources (other texts, other
people, etc.) to solve the homework. However, as is the case anytime one draws upon another's work,
students are expected give attribution to the sources used in solving problems.
Because the homework is such a integral part of this course, it is important to provide thorough and
timely feedback on the solutions. This can only be done fairly by enforcing deadlines as follows.
1) For problems turned in by the due date, students will earn at least 50% credit for any good-faith
effort on a solution. In other words, if you make a serious attempt to solve the problems, youre
guaranteed to get at least 50% just by turning the solutions in on time.
2) For problems turned in within one week after the deadline, the maximum grade will be 80%.
3) No homework will be accepted more than a week late.
This policy is perhaps more stringent than that in other courses you may have taken. However past
experience with a more liberal homework policy has shown that there sometimes are a few students
who are chronically late turning in homework assignments. Because the solutions cannot be discussed
until everyone had turned in the assignment, feedback comes too late to be particularly useful. Thus,
the tardiness of one or a few students penalizes the entire class and results in a lower quality course.
From time to time, you may find yourself in a situation where it may not be possible to meet a deadline
for a valid reason. If this is ever the case, let Sparrow know as soon as possible so that we can find a
resolution.
Record keeping:
Keep all of your assignments until after the semester is over. In the unlikely case that Dr. Sparrows
computer dies, you would be asked to produce all of your graded assignments so that your grade can
be assigned.
Web Site:
To contain class notes, video streams, animations, supplementary materials, etc:
http://psu.instructure.com
Discussion board:
A discussion area will be set up on CANVAS for interactions between students in the class.
To view a live class:
Go to the CANVAS web site and look for the live class folder. Your goal is then to get into the
Adobe Connect for the class. You should be able to get on a few minutes before the class begins using
your E-mail address as the login with the special password provided to you. Note: the password to
view a live class is usually different from the password you use to get into CANVAS. If you forget
your password, you can go through a forgot your password procedure here. If you need to get on

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right before a live class with no password, enter as a guest, and ask that the video producer let you
come into the class.
Attendance Policy:
On-campus students are expected to attend every lecture.
Off-campus students are expected to attend the lectures live if at all possible. If this is not possible,
students are expected to watch the archived version of the lectures regularly.
Academic Integrity:
Issues related to academic integrity in this course will follow College of Engineering guidelines, which
can be found at
http://www.engr.psu.edu/FacultyStaff/AcademicIntegrity.aspx
Examples of violations of academic integrity policy include the following:
Homework: plagiarism, failure to cite sources used in solving homework problems.
Sanction: A first violation will result in a warning. A second violation will result in a student
receiving a grade of zero on the assignment. A third violation will result in a student receiving a grade
of zero for all homework for the entire semester. A fourth violation will result in a student receiving a
grade of F for the entire course.
Examinations: failure to adhere restrictions placed on the exam.
Sanction: The student will receive a grade of zero for the exam on which the violation occurred.
A second violation will result in a student receiving a grade of F for the entire course.
Giving or otherwise providing access to course notes or lectures to anyone for any reason without the
express consent of the instructor. Such action at a minimum violates copyright laws, might violate
University policies AD20, AD23 and or ADG01, and may constitute electronic theft.
Sanction: A grade of F for the course, removal of access to course materials for the remainder of the
semester, and referral of the case to the Academic Integrity Committee.
Special Protocols for the influenza or similar health issues:
In compliance with Pennsylvania Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control
recommendations, students should NOT attend class or any public gatherings while ill with influenza.
Students with flu symptoms will be asked to leave campus if possible and to return home during
recovery. The illness and self-isolation period will usually be about a week. It is very important that
individuals avoid spreading the flu to others.
Most students should be able to complete a successful semester despite a flu-induced absence.
Faculty will provide students who are absent because of illness with a reasonable opportunity to make
up missed work. Ordinarily, it is inappropriate to substitute for the missed assignment the weighting of
a semester's work that does not include the missed assignment or exam. Completion of all assignments

Syllabus for Fall 2016 Elements of Acoustics and Vibration (updated August 23, 2016), p. 7 of 8

and exams assures the greatest chance for students to develop heightened understanding and content
mastery that is unavailable through the weighting process. The opportunity to complete all assignments
and exams supports the university's desire to enable students to make responsible situational decisions,
including the decision to avoid spreading a contagious virus to other students, staff, and faculty,
without endangering their academic work.
Students with the flu do not need to provide a physician's certification of illness. However, ill
students should inform their teachers (but not through personal contact in which there is a risk of
exposing others to the virus) as soon as possible that they are absent because of the flu. Likewise
students should contact their instructors as quickly as possible to arrange to make up missed
assignments or exams.
If you have questions about academic policy-related issues, please call the Associate Dean/Chief
Academic Officer of your college. For health-related questions you can email University Health
Services, at uhsinfo@sa.psu.edu.
Emergency statement
In the event of a University-wide emergency course requirements, classes, deadlines and grading
schemes are subject to changes that may include alternative delivery methods, alternative methods of
interaction with the instructor, class materials, and/or classmates, a revised attendance policy, and a
revised semester calendar and/or grading scheme. In the case of a University-wide emergency, please
refer to CANVAS site for this class for updates on changes in this course.
Resident students should also be aware of:
https://psualert.psu.edu/psualert/ - PSUAlert is Penn State's emergency notification system for
students, faculty and staff. The system will be used to alert members of Penn State's campus
communities of emergencies, campus closings and other urgent information. Using this portal,
students, faculty and staff can choose to receive PSUAlert messages by text message, voice message
and e!mail.
Statement of nondiscrimination
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal
access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics
not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state
of federal authorities. The Pennsylvania State University does not discriminate against any person
because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex,
sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to:
Affirmative Action Director , The Pennsylvania State University, 201 Willard Building ,
University Park, PA 16802-2801 , Telephone: (814) 863-0471
U.Ed.OVP98-4

Disability access statement

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Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn
State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Office for Disability Services (ODS) Web
site provides contact information for every Penn State campus: http://equity.psu.edu/ods/dcl. For
further information, please visit the Office for Disability Services Web site: http://equity.psu.edu/ods.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the
appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an
intake interview, and provide documentation: http://equity.psu.edu/ods/guidelines. If the
documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campuss disability
services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your
instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must
follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Syllabus subject to change notice
This syllabus is subject to change, based on the needs of the class. Please check it regularly.
Hints for doing well in the course:
Ask questions as soon as the material is covered. If you don't understand something right away, the
problem may compound itself as the course moves forward.
Faithfully turn in the homework and do the readings.
Remember, Sparrow will work hard on your behalf, but you determine how much you get out of this
course.

CAVEATS:
Sparrow will endeavor to make this class a good one. However, expect that some lectures will be
rougher than others. Technical difficulties will occur. You should also expect at least 1-2 misprints
and or lecturer mistakes per class.
Thank you ahead of time for your patience and understanding.