The Physics of Music

Introduction

Meet your professor: Melyssa Swett

What to expect in this course: Melyssa Swett- Portfolio

Unit 1: Periodic Motion and Waves

1-1 Objective

1-2 Background

1-3 Periodic Motion

1-4 Simple Harmonic Motion

1-5 Oscillations

1-6 Sound Waves

1-7 How Does A Sound Wave Work?

1-8 Sound Wave Characteristics

1-9 Intensity of Sound Waves

1-10 Assessment

Unit 2: Superposition of Waves

2-1 Objective

2-2 Background

2-3 Superposition of Waves

2-4 Standing Waves

2-5 Beats

2-6 Complex Tones

2-7 Assessment

Unit 3: Perception of Complex Tones

3-1 Objective

3-2 Background

3-3 Pitch

3-4 Loudness Level

3-5 Perception of Two Pure Tones

3-6 Combination Tones

3-7 Missing Fundamental

3-8 Assessment

Unit 4: Musical Scales

4-1 Objective

4-2 Background

4-3 Consonance and Dissonance

4-4 Beat Theory

4-5 Critical Band Theory

4-6 Musical Scales

4-7 Western Music Scales

4-8 Pythagorean Scale

4-9 Just Scale

4-10 Tempered Scale

4-11 Assessment

Unit 5: Strings, Pipes, & Membranes

5-1 Objectives

5-2 Background

5-3 Vibrational Mode of a Stretched String

5-4 Vibrational Mode of an Air Column

5-5 Vibrational Mode of a Stretched Membrane

5-6 Assessment

Unit 6: Musical Instruments

6-1 Objective

6-2 Background

6-3 Initiating Vibrations On A String

6-4 Initiating Vibrations In An Air Column

6-5 Initiating Vibrations On A Membrane

6-6 Structural Influence On A String

6-7 Structural Influence On A Pipe

6-8 Structural Influence On A Membrane

6-9 Assessment

Unit 7: Acoustics

7-1 Objective

7-2 Background

7-3 Environmental Influence

7-4 Behavior of Sound

7-5 Sound Within An Enclosure

7-6 Quantitative Acoustical Parameters

7-7 Solving Acoustic Problems

7-8 Assessment

References

The Physics of Music- References