PHYS 1204

Physics of Musical Sound

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2019-2020.

Explores musical sound from a physics point of view. Topics include how various musical instruments work; pitch, timbre, scales, intervals, and tunings; hearing; human voice and room acoustics. This course is a Writing In The Majors Course: both science writing and physics problem-solving skills are developed through weekly assignments. Student activities include hands-on investigations of musical instruments and field trips. Students write a term paper investigating a topic of their choice. At the level of The Science of Sound by Rossing, Moore, and Wheeler.

When Offered Spring.

Permission Note Enrollment limited to: 60 students.

Distribution Category (PBS-AS)

Comments Assumes no scientific background but uses high school algebra.  Open to all students and suitable for non-scientists; does not serve as prerequisite for further science courses.

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