Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
INSTITUTE OF SOUND AND VIBRATION RESEARCH
BEng Acoustical Engineering MEng Acoustical Engineering/B.Sc. Acoustics with Music B.Sc. Acoustics and Music	Year: 2002-03

Module Specification

Unit/Module Code:	Module Title:
IS102	Physical Acoustics

1.	Basic Information

Department responsible for the module	ISVR
Programme	BEng Acoustical Engineering MEng Acoustical Engineering/B.Sc. Acoustics with Music B.Sc. Acoustics and Music
Timetable	Semester 2
Session	2002-03
Credit Value	10 CAT points (=100 hours) Level I
Pre-requisites	A level Mathematics and Physics
Co-requisites	None
Module Lecturers	Dr A McAlpine
Contact	am@isvr.soton.ac.uk
Formal Contact Hours	24 lectures = 18 h 4 tutorials = 3 hours 1 laboratory (3 hours) 1 exam (2 hours)
Private Study Hours	Approx. 4 hours/week = 48 hours
Coursework	1 laboratory
External Examiner	Dr. T.J. Cox
Last Approved
Last Revision	1/9/2002
Course Web Site



2.	Description

2.1	Aims

	The aims of this module are to introduce the fundamentals of acoustics with emphasis on the underlying physical principles.

2.2	Objectives (teaching)

	Objectives (teaching) · To introduce the student to some of the fundamental theory of acoustics. To describe longitudinal wave propagation.(br> To derive the plane wave equation, and discuss its solutions.(br> To calculate cylindrical and spherical wave spreading, reflection coefficients at a plane boundary, refraction at a plane fluid-fluid interface and normal modes of free oscillation in one dimension. To give the student experience of solving simple problems in acoustics.

2.3	Objectives (planned learning outcomes)

	Knowledge and understanding
	The module contains six sections. The key learning outcomes (for each section) are: Introduction Key Learning Outcomes: You should be able to…. define a wave, and identify the difference between a transverse and longitudinal wave. appreciate the relevance of acoustics in practical applications. describe examples of some common wave phenomena. calculate the shift in frequency caused by the Doppler effect. Physical description of the Longitudinal Wave Key Learning Outcomes: You should be able to… describe the propagation of a longitudinal wave in a compressible fluid by comparison with the spring-bob-line model. define phase and group velocity, and apply these concepts to a time-harmonic wave and a wave group. illustrate the differences between dispersive and non-dispersive waves. Comparison of the Oscillator and the Wave Key Learning Outcomes: You should be able to… derive (from Newton’s 2nd Law) the equation of motion for a spring-bob oscillator. solve the equation of motion (SHM) for a spring-bob oscillator. outline the derivation (from conservation of mass and Newton’s 2nd Law) of the 1D acoustic wave equation. recognize that physical quantities which vary sinusoidally may be expressed in complex exponential form, and appreciate the benefits of this approach. identify the difference between an isothemal and adiabatic process. Application of the Plane Wave Solution Key Learning Outcomes: You should be able to… show that the given solution of the 1D acoustic wave equation is a plane wave, and determine the direction of propagation. calculate the specific acoustic impedance of a plane wave. derive the relationships between particle displacement, particle velocity and acoustic pressure. Energy and Intensity Key Learning Outcomes: You should be able to… outline the procedure used to calculate the intensity of a plane wave. calculate the SPL from coherent and incoherent sources. derive (by using conservation of energy) suitable expressions for cylindrical and spherical waves. apply Huygen’s principle to practical examples of wave propagation, diffraction and refraction. derive and apply Snell’s law in order to calculate refraction at a fluid-fluid interface. Reflection Key Learning Outcomes: You should be able to… derive pressure reflection R and transmission T coefficients at a plane boundary (at normal incidence). apply R and T to a pressure-release and rigid boundary. describe the formation of standing waves in an impedance tube, and recognize the effect of changing the impedance of the sample in the tube. construct normal modes of free oscillation in a 1D system. describe normal modes of free oscillation in 2 and 3D systems. apply the method of images to the reflection of a spherical wave at a plane boundary.

	Cognitive (thinking) skills


	Practical, subject-specific skills


	Key transferable skills


2.4	Teaching and Learning Activities

	Teaching methods include

	2 lectures a week 4 formal tutorials 1 laboratory

	Learning activities include

	Students write their own course notes during lectures. In addition some pre-prepared notes are also provided. Students are encouraged to undertake further reading, and a booklist together with recommended reading is provided. Problem sheets and specimen answers are provided, and solutions are discussed during tutorial sessions. At the end of the course there are revision lectures, which include a review of past exam questions. Students are encouraged to attempt the problem sheets and past exam papers. The problem sheets are marked by the lecturer providing the students with formative feedback during the course.

2.5	Methods of Assessment (summative assessment)

BEng Acoustical Engineering
Assessment Methods	Number	% contribution to final mark	Comment
Exam (2h)	1	90
Lab	1	10
BSc Acoustics and Music
Assessment Methods	Number	% contribution to final mark	Comment
Exam (2h)	1	90
Lab	1	10
BSc Acoustics with Music
Assessment Methods	Number	% contribution to final mark	Comment
Exam (2h)	1	90
Lab	1	10
MEng Acoustical Engineering
Assessment Methods	Number	% contribution to final mark	Comment
Exam (2h)	1	90
Lab	1	10


2.6	Feedback to students during module study (formative assessment)

	Tutorial assistance to cover issues raised concerning problem sheet questions. Specimen answers to all problem sheet questions are provided. Problem sheet questions are marked by the course lecturer providing formative assessment during the course.

2.7	Relationship between the teaching, learning and assessment methods

	The principal assessment method is by examination. The exam is a partial open-book exam. (The quantity of written notes which may be used by the student during the exam is limited.) Therefore each student has to select the information they feel will be necessary in order to assist them during the examination. The key learning outcomes detail the skills that are assessed by the examination. The assessment and learning outcomes have been constructively aligned in order to provide the student with a clear understanding of the desired level of attainment for this course. The teaching and learning activities aim to provide the students with the necessary experience to meet the learning outcomes, and thus successfully complete the module. The specimen problems covered during the lectures, and in the example sheets, provide typical examples of the level of the examination questions used to assess the learning outcomes. Students have a choice of questions in the exam (3 out of 5). The laboratory provides the students with experience of carrying out several simple experiments in acoustics. The experiments are directly related to the theory covered during lectures, and this theory is used in order to analyse the results. The laboratory books are marked to assess the students’ ability to set-up and carry out an experiment, including how to analyse results, assess experimental errors and to summarise their findings.

3.	TOPICS COVERED

	. Introduction: (approx. three lectures) a. Waves b. Applications of acoustics c. Some common wave phenomena Physical description of the longitudinal wave: (approx. three lectures) a. Compressional waves b. Spring-bob-line model c. Wave shapes d. Wave groups and Group velocity e. Dispersion Comparison of the oscillator and the wave: (approx. three lectures) a. Spring-bob oscillator b. Plane wave equation c. Sound waves in gases and liquids Application of the plane wave solution: (approx. two lectures) a. Solutions of the plane wave equation b. Acoustic impedance c. Superposition and Interference Energy and Intensity: (approx. four lectures) a. Energy, Power and Intensity b. Relationship between intensity and acoustic pressure (for a plane wave) c. Sound from multiple sources d. Spherical and cylindrical waves e. Huygens principle f. Snell’s law Reflection: (approx. six lectures) a. Reflection of a plane wave at normal incidence b. Pressure release and rigid boundaries c. Plane standing waves d. Normal modes e. Image sources

4.	RESOURCES

	Core Texts

	AUTHORS	TITLE/EDITION/DATE	PUBLISHER	UNI. LIB Class Mark	E.J. Richards Library

1.	L. E. Kinsler A.R. Frey A.B. Coppens J.V. Sanders	Fundamentals of Acoustics 4th Edition, 2000 3rd Edition, 1982 2nd Edition, 1962	John Wiley 0471094102 pbk 0471029335 hbk	QC225FUN 7 loan 1 loan	2 ref/1 loan 8 loan

2.	F.J. Fahy	Foundations of Engineering Acoustics 1st edition 2001	Academic Press 0 1224 7665 4	TA365FAH 6 loan	1 ref

	Secondary Texts
	None


	Other library support

	The ISVR’s E.J. Richards Library houses a specialist collection relating to noise and vibration.

	Staff required

	Dr. A. McAlpine – lectures and tutorials. Dr. A. McAlpine and A.N. Other – laboratory.

	Teaching space, layout and equipment required

	A lecture room with 30 seats is required for 2-3 hours a week. The room should be equipped with overhead projection facilities, and a blackboard.

	Laboratory space required

	A laboratory is required for groups of about six students to undertake some simple experiments in acoustics.

	Computer requirements

	None

	Software requirements

	None

	Off-campus activities

	None

	Part-time/distance learning students

	No special provision is made.

	Other

	Students will have the opportunity to provide their own feedback during the course. Issues raised will be discussed, and any resulting changes implemented.