Physics of Music-- Physics 341 -- Spring 2004

Lecturer: W. Unruh. 311B Hennings bldg (East side of bldg inside Rm 311).
Tel: 822 3273 FAX: 822 5324
Email:

Teaching Assistant: Lauren MacArthur
Email: lauren@physics.ubc.ca
Address: Rm 310C Hennings Building
Phone: (604)822-3726

Extra Tutorials will be arranged as soon as Lauren knows her timetable.

Web Site: www.theory.physics.ubc.ca/341-04
(For Assignments, Solutions, extra notes, this blurb, etc.)

Text:There is no "official" text book, but there are two books which are (strongly) suggested. Both have different strengths and weaknesses,

T. Rossing: The Science of Sound.
This is a good "textbook", whose mathematical level is, however, a bit higher than this course will use or require. Its approach is close to my own in philosophy, and he generally gets the science right ( which unfortunately is not true of all books on the this topic). If you find difficulty with the algebra, just skip over it and read the words and pictures around the equations. Try to understand the equation in a general way, but do not worry if you have difficulty. You will not be memorizing equations in this course.
A.H. Benade: -- Fundamentals of Musical Acoustics
This classic text (one of the first of the modern texts on the subject) is idiosyncratic, but covers a lot of musical acoustics and the science of how instruments operate. It is not a good main text but is a classic in the field and an excellent supplementary book which has the adavantage of a cheap price as a Dover Paperback. Also, by its different approach, it can illuminate issues which my approach may leave shadowed for some students.

Course Times: Lectures MWF 11:00 Hebb 13

Course components: (The mark distributions are approximate)

Midterm=about 20%
The midterm will take place in mid February. Traditionally my midterms have been hard especially because students are not used to my problem style. (I value people being able to think about what they have learned rather than rote regurgitation of the material).
Assignments= about 20%
There will be about 8 assignments throught the term. It is important that these be done on time. Solutions will be posted here on this web site (www.theory.physics.ubc.ca/341-04). Assignments will be due 2 weeks after they are assigned and solutions will be posted about one week later. Assignments handed in after the solutions are posted will not receive marks.
You may discuss the problems with each other, and approach either me or the TA with questions (we will not solve the problems for you, but will try to provide guidance as to how to think about the problems) However, I expect all of you to write up and understand your own solutions. Copying someone else's solutions will not be looked on with favour.
Essay= about 25%
Due: Last day of classes.
Length: 10 pages.
Format: Up to you. (Eg, if a web page would be more suitable to the way you want to make your point, use that, or if a tape, CD, DVD, MD would be useful, I can read those-- but do not send me the computer files from proprietary vehicles (MS Word, etc) assuming that I can read them on my computer. I cannot. Of course you may use whatever document processor you wish to produce a printed paper copy, which I can read. I can also read postscipt or PDF documents. If in any doubt, ask me.)
Make sure you reference your sources.
The essay topic is up to you to decide. It can be on any topic in the physics of music. This should be a chance for you to study in more depth some topic which you would be interested in knowing more about. Topics in the past have ranged from the physics of some instrument, the physiology of the human ear, the preception of music and tonality, to the analysis of the sound structure of farts, or the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows bridge ( an example of of low frequency acoustic feedback). People have also carried out experiments, either on an instrument which interested them, or on some other acoustical phenomenon.
Please make sure that you have an idea of what you want to write on by the time of the midterm. You are expected to do your own (secondary source) research on your topic, and any indication of a "canned" essay (Ie, and essay written in whole or in part by someone else) will be regarded with great disfavour by both me and the University. (See the University Policy on Plagerism.) (Students have been expelled for handing in essays written by others, or where major sources were not attributed). You are required to state your sources for the material you use with an appropriate biliographical reference.
Final= about 35%
The final exam will consist of a number of questions of which you will not have to answer all for maximum marks (ie, there will be some choice). It will test a combination of your knowing the material and your ability to use it to think about the world of sounds and music.

I have not made the above mark distribution definite as I want freedom to be able to adjust marks to take into account hapstances of the year.

I expect everyone to pass, although offer no guarentees. On past record it is very rare to fail the course if you put in the work. In fact, in the past students have, in general, done well, but this course will require you to think.

Purpose of the Course

The purpose of the course is to learn to look at and begin to understand the acoustical world through the eyes (or is it ears) of a physicist. This extends from the production of sound by musical instruments (or other means) to the transmission of sound to and through the atmosphere, the preception of sound by the ears and the experience of sound by the the mind. Despite the impression you may have formed of physics from high school, understanding the world like a physicist does does not necessarily mean understanding it mathematically ( there will not be many equations in this course at all), but does mean the ability to use simple physical models and ideas to understand the qualitative physical nature of acoustical processes.

My lectures will use a lot of demonstrations of acoustical and musical phenomenon. I hope that anyone who plays a (portable) musical instrument will be willing to bring their instruments in to play briefly for the class at the appropriate time-- not as a concert but to demonstrate to the rest of the class the nature of the instrument. I will myself be "playing" a variety of "instruments" thoughout the course of the term. (One of the things which makes the course fun for me is that I get the chance to make many weird noises.)

The mathematical level of the course will be no higher than Grade 10-11 mathematics with almost no "algebra". It will use graphs to convey essential mathematical information. A knowledge of rudimentary music theory is a help, but if you do not have it, all of the essential ideas I use will be covered in class.