Acoustics at Kettering University

Minor in Acoustics at Kettering University (16 credits)

Required Courses

PHYS-302, Vibration, Sound, and Light (4-0-4) [Offered Summer and Fall terms only]
The phenomena of vibration and waves provide a fundamental background necessary to approach a wide variety of applications in physics and engineering. The first part of this course will introduce students to the basics of vibration, including the effects of real damping, response to driving forces, nonlinear oscillation and application to several acoustical, optical, electrical, and mechanical systems. After this introduction to vibration, the course will focus on wave motion. The behavior of non-dispersive waves in solids, acoustic sound waves, electromagnetic waves, and transverse waves on a string will be discussed along with an introduction to Fourier analysis as a means of analyzing wave signals. Non-dispersive waves in non-uniform media will also be explored with applications to several different types of waves occurring in nature. Basic wave phenomena including reflection, refraction, diffraction and interference will be discussed with respect to a variety of wave types. Students successfully completing this course will be well prepared for further study in optics, acoustics, vibration, and electro-magnetic wave propagation.
Pre-requisites: PHYS-224, Electricity & Magnetism; MATH-204, Differential Equations

PHYS-388, Acoustics in the Human Environment (4-0-4) [Offered Summer and Fall terms only]
Acoustics in the Human Environment: (PHYS-388) This course surveys elements in acoustics that involve human factors, including the physiology of hearing, psychoacoustics and sound quality metrics, and the basic signal processing needed for these metrics. Topics in architectural and room acoustics will also explore how we experience and control our acoustic environment. While the level of prerequisites and mathematical sophistication is intermediate, intense independent learning and academic maturity is expected. Computer software will be used to manipulate audio signals and understand processing that is often automated (and used carelessly). In this course, less emphasis will be placed on technical practice that may change. Instead, students will be challenged to understand why standards are written as they are, how metrics are designed, and how "rules of thumb" originated.
Pre-requisites: PHYS-224, Electricity & Magnetism

PHYS-485, AcousticsTesting and Modeling (2-4-4) [Offered Winter and Spring terms only]
This course combines testing and measurement in the Acoustics Laboratory, modeling approaches including the finite element method, and exposure to textbook and journal literature to explore basic phenomena in acoustics. Each time the course is offered, students and the instructor will select three modules from a larger set, so that the course may be tailored to meet the needs and interests of students and faculty. Module topics include acoustic oscillators, structural vibration, source models, three-dimensional wave propagation, impedance and intensity, and transducers. Additional modules may be offered. Students in this course will collaborate to develop understanding through lab work, modeling, and theory. Each module will culminate in a presentation.
Pre-requisites: PHYS-302, Physics of Waves

Elective Courses (choose one)

EE-330, Digital Signal Processing: (4-0-4)
Basic principles, design concepts, and applications of digital signal processing. Topics include: analysis of frequency response characteristics of discrete-time systems using z-transforms; design of infinite and finite impulse response filters; spectral analysis using Fast Fourier Transform methods; and study of DSP hardware and algorithms and analog and digital converters. Includes experimental design projects with digital signal processing systems.
Pre-requisites: EE-230, Signals and Systems

MECH-330, Dynamical Systems I (4-0-4)
Fundamental topics include undamped free vibration, damped free vibration, forced vibration with harmonic excitation, transient vibration, two degree-of-freedom systems, multi-degree-of-freedom systems, vibration absorbers, and vibration measuring instruments. This course provides basic principles and methods underlying the steady state and dynamic characterization of physical systems and components. Construction of mathematical models by bond-grah and simulation of systems by digital computers are emphasized.
Pre-requisites: MECH-310, Mechanics III

PHYS-498, Independent Study in Physics
Occassionally students will ask to work an acoustics research project with one of the appied physics acoustics faculty. Past independent study projects have included: radiation of sound energy in the near-field and far-field of a tuning fork, acoustic and vibrational analysis of the kalimba, binaural hearing and sound localization, measuring the acoustic end correction for an open pipe, building artificial lips to play a trombone, an acoustic impedance probe, loudspeaker design and performance, vibrational analysis of bolted versus glued guitar necks.