Physics 1240: Sound and Music

Spring 2011 Syllabus

Musical acoustics is a unique area of study where "art" and "science" meet together, and interact
on equal footing. This course will cover the generation and propagation of sound, and the ear’s
response to sound. We will study sound generated from musical instruments and sound from the
human voice. There will also be an introduction to room acoustics, sound analysis, sound
synthesis, musical intervals and scales. The goals of this course are to: 1) learn basic aspects of
musical acoustics, 2) develop a better understanding and appreciation of the science of sound,
and 3) have fun learning. Please understand this is a physics course. If you don’t like physics,
you should consider another course.

Time: Tues/Thurs, 12:30-1:45pm

Place: G1B30, Duane Physics Building

Lead Instructor: Scott Parker

Scott Parker’s Info: F-921 Gamow Tower (take elevators across from Physics Office), Phone:
303-492-3292; email: sparker@colorado.edu

Office Hours: Tues/Thurs 3:00-4:00 pm

Jamison (“Jamie’’) Smith (Co-Instructor): D-233 Duane (take the stairs or elevators just west
of Gamow Tower), Phone: 303-492-7767; email: jamison.smith@colorado.edu

Office Hours: Wed 8-9am, Fri 8-9am, and by appointment

Talk to Jamie about clickers, or the Tuesday in-class performances, among other things.

Blaze Vincent (Teaching Assistant): blaze.vincent@colorado.edu

Office Hours: Tues. 11am-12pm, Fri 2-3pm, Physics Helproom (basement of the Duane
Physics building, Room G2B90)

Talk to Blaze about CAPA homework and home lab grading problems, among other things.

Office Hours: Please feel free to drop in any time during office hours, this is time specifically set
aside for you. If you cannot make the office hours, feel free to schedule an appointment to see us.
Please come visit and say hello!

Course Web Site: www.colorado.edu/physics/phys1240/phys1240_sp11

Required Text:

Musical Acoustics, by Donald E. Hall, Third Edition (Brooks/Cole, CA, 2002).

ISBN-13: 978-0534377281

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ISBN-10: 0534377289

Clickers are required for this course.

Useful References (books used by the instructors):

The Science of Sound, by Thomas D. Rossing, Third Edition, (Addison-Wesley 2002).

The Acoustical Foundations of Music, by John Backus, Second Edition, (Norton and Co. 1977).

The Physics of Musical Instruments, by N.H. Fletcher and T.D. Rossing, Second Edition,
(Springer 1998).

Math and Music, Harmonious Connections, by T.H. Garland and C.V. Kahn (Seymour 1995).

The Science of Musical Sound, John R. Pierce, Revised Edition, (Freeman 1992).

Deaf Architects and Blind Musicians, Robert E. Apfel, Revised Edition, (Apple Enterprises Press
1998).

The Musician’s Guide to Sound Reinforcement and Live, Mike Sokol, (Prentice Hall 1998).

The Complete Guide To Digital Audio, Chris Middleton, (Muska and Lipman 2003).

Prerequisites: Please understand that this is a Physics course offered by the Physics
Department. You will be required to learn some physics to do well in this course. If you don’t
like physics, you should consider another course. There are no course prerequisites. However, a
facility with simple algebra is required. There will also be some very basic discussion of written
music (notes and intervals) and the simple mathematics of logarithms. Prior experience with
written music and logarithms is helpful, but not required.

Grading: 20% CAPA homework, 15% home labs, 2% class participation and clickers, 33%
midterm exams, 30% final exam. There are 2 midterm exams and a final exam. If a curve is
used, it will only be to your advantage. It is possible for every single student in the course to get
90% or above. We’d be very happy if this were to happen and we would give out 200 A’s! If you
miss a midterm exam for a legitimate reason, you must notify one of the instructors by 5pm the
day of the exam (A&S policy). A legitimate reason will require documentation. For example, if
you’re unable to take an exam due to illness, documentation from the Wardenburg Health Center
or equivalent documentation is required. The missed exam score will be set to the average of the
other two exam scores. The final exam is cumulative. If you miss the final exam you will receive
an incomplete. Please carefully check exam dates for any schedule conflicts. If you have a
schedule conflict notify the instructors within the first two weeks of class. Class participation via
clickers (see below) will allow you to earn up to two additional percentage points. Note this is a
grade for class participation and includes good citizenship. Good citizenship in this context
means being respectful to others and taking responsibility when needed, to help make this course
a good learning experience.

In-Class Questions -- Clickers: We will be using “clickers” in this class and they will count for a
small part of your grade. Purchase your clicker at the CU bookstore and register your clicker at
cuconnect. Clicker questions will be asked and graded in class electronically in real time. You will
still get some credit for a wrong answer. So, when in doubt, just guess! We actually encourage
collaboration and teamwork in learning. This applies to in-class questions. Please work with
your nearby classmate, or ask for help. Don’t just copy. Think through the answer yourself. Ask

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“Why”. Make sure your classmate is correct. Also, be willing to help. Helping to explain the
question/answer, helps you learn! Questions about clickers should be addressed to Jamie:
jamison.smith@colorado.edu.

CAPA homework system: This course uses an Internet-based homework system called CAPA
(Computer Assisted Physics Assignments). In the CAPA system, students receive a personalized
homework assignment (every student's assignment is slightly different) with a CAPA ID number.
Students log on to a CAPA server via an Internet connection and "hand in" their homework
solutions online. The student is told immediately whether the answers are right or wrong and, if
wrong, the student can try again, with no penalty, up to a maximum number of tries set by the
instructor. There is often a new CAPA homework each week and it will always be due Friday
night at 10pm (see Course Schedule below). There are eight CAPA homework assignments. If
you miss the Fri deadline, there is an automatic extension until 8am the next morning on Sat.
More details will be given in class and on the course web page. Questions about CAPA
homework grading should be addressed to Blaze: blaze.vincent@colorado.edu.

Home Labs: There will be three “home labs” These are laboratory assignments you do on your
own time. The home labs are posted under “Course Material” on the course web site. You may
collaborate with other students, but you need to hand your own unique and independent lab
assignment to be graded. For example, if you are working with another student. Make a
measurement twice so that you can report independent results. Also, you may discuss the
questions, but ultimately answer the question independently, using your own words. The home
labs will require you to install the RavenLite software on a PC or a Mac. Details on how to get
started using RavenLite can be found under “Important course resources and …” on the course
web site. Questions about home lab grading should be addressed to Blaze:
blaze.vincent@colorado.edu.

Ground Rules: Please show respect and consideration for others and let’s work together for
good classroom learning experience. Please do not talk when the instructor is lecturing or another
student is speaking. If/when arriving late or leaving early, please do so quietly. Any students with
disabilities please notify the instructor within the first two weeks of class.

Important Dates (check and mark your calendar):

Midterm Exam I: Tuesday, February 15 (in class)

Midterm Exam II: Tuesday, April 5 (in class)

Final Exam: Tuesday, May 3, 4:30pm-7:00pm (G-1B30 -- our usual lecture

hall)

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 Tentative Course Schedule

This schedule, including due dates, may change. Any changes will be
announced both in class and posted on the “Bulletin Board” on the course
web site.

Week 1 – Jan 11, 13

Course style and structure. Vibrations, periodicity, pitch and frequency.

Read Chapters 1 and 2

Week 2 – Jan 18, 20

Vibrations in musical instruments, digital sampling, waveforms, resonance.

Read Chapter 3, Pages 213-214

CAPA Homework 1 Due on Fri 10pm

Week 3 – Jan 25, 27

Harmonics (overtones), spectra and timbre.

Read Chapter 8

CAPA Homework 2 Due on Friday 10pm

Week 4 – Feb 1, 3

Waves, wave motion, sound propagation, echoes, interference and beats.

Read Sections 4.1-4.3 (skip refraction), 4.5

CAPA Homework 3 Due on Friday 10pm

Week 5 – Feb 8, 10

Catch up, review for Midterm Exam I

Home Lab I due Thursday in class

Week 6 – Feb 15, 17

Midterm Exam I: Tuesday, February 15 (in class)

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Week 7 – Feb 22, 24

Sound intensity, Decibel scale

Read Chapter 5

CAPA Homework 4 Due on Friday 10pm

Week 8 – March 1, 3

Hearing and the human ear, loudness and intensity, loudness dependence on pitch.

Read Chapter 6

CAPA Homework 5 Due on Friday 10pm

Week 9 – March 8, 10

Piano keyboard, scales and intervals.

Read Chapter 7

CAPA Homework 6 Due on Friday 10pm

Week 10 – March 15, 17

Natural modes of vibration, standing waves, percussion instruments, strings.

Read Sections 9.1, 9.4-9.5, 10.1, 10.2, Box 10.2, Sections 11.1-11.2, 11.3 (some review)

Home Lab II due Thursday in class

Week 11 – March 22, 24

* Spring Break, No Class*

Week 12 – March 29, 31

Pipes, woodwinds, brass

Read Chapter 12.1-12.3, 12.5-12.6, 13

CAPA Homework 7 Due on Friday 10pm

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Week 13 April 5, 7

Midterm Exam II: Tuesday, April 5 (in class)

Brief discussion of digital synthesis.

Re-Read more carefully: Sections 8.3 and 8.4

Week 14 – Apr 12, 14

Architectural acoustics, reverberation and room qualities.

Read Sections 15.1-15.3, 15.5-15.6

CAPA Homework 8 Due on Friday 10pm

Week 15 Apr 19, 21

The human voice

Read Chapter 14

Home Lab III due Thursday in class

Week 16 – Apr 26, 28

Sound perception and illusion. Binaural effects. Critical bands, masking. Review for Final Exam.

Read Sections 17.1-17.4 (skip Box 17.1), 17.6-17.7, 18.1

Final Exam: Tuesday, May 3, 4:30pm-7:00pm (G-1B30 -- our usual lecture

hall)