Objectives - Sound and Music

The Minds On Physics program consists of 15 modules. Each module covers a different topic and consists of a varying number of assignments. Every assignment addresses one or two objectives. The objectives for the Sound and Music module are listed below.

  • Assignment 1:
    • The student should be able to describe several fundamental concepts concerning the nature of a sound wave.
  • Assignment 2:
    • The student should be able to identify and describe the characteristics of amplitude, wavelength and frequency for a sound wave.
    • The student should be able to identify factors effecting (and not effecting) the speed of a sound wave.
  • Assignment 3:
    • The student should be able to recognize the role of the deciBel system and understand its logarithmic nature.
    • The student should be able to compare sounds in terms of their intensity and deciBel level.
  • Assignment 4:
    • The student should be able to describe the Doppler effect and its underlying causes.
  • Assignment 5:
    • The student should be able to identify the cause and result of resonance and the basic vocabulary associated with resonance.
    • The student should be able to associate standing wave patterns with harmonic numbers and identify the frequency relationships for the various harmonics of a vibrating object.
  • Assignment 6:
    • The student should be able to identify the standing wave patterns for stringed instruments and use them to state the length-wavelength relationships.
    • The student should be able to recognize the relationship between the frequencies of the various harmonics for stringed instruments.
  • Assignment 7:
    • The student should be able to determine the wavelength and frequency of a standing wave in a guitar string if given the speed, harmonic number and length of the string.
    • The student should be able to determine the wavelength and the length of a guitar string if given the frequency of a harmonic, the wave pattern and the speed of waves in the string.
  • Assignment 8:
    • The student should be able to identify the standing wave patterns for open-end air columns and use them to state the length-wavelength relationships.
    • The student should be able to recognize the relationship between the frequencies of the various harmonics for open-end air columns.
  • Assignment 9:
    • The student should be able to determine the wavelength and frequency of a standing wave in a open-end air column if given the speed, harmonic number and length of the air column.
    • The student should be able to determine the wavelength and the length of an open-end air column if given the frequency of a harmonic, the wave pattern and the speed of waves in the air.
  • Assignment 10:
    • The student should be able to identify the standing wave patterns for closed-end air columns and use them to state the length-wavelength relationships.
    • The student should be able to recognize the relationship between the frequencies of the various harmonics for closed-end air columns.
  • Assignment 11:
    • The student should be able to determine the wavelength and frequency of a standing wave in a closed-end air column if given the speed, harmonic number and length of the air column.
    • The student should be able to determine the wavelength and the length of an closed-end air column if given the frequency of a harmonic, the wave pattern and the speed of waves in the air.