Course Catalogue

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This course introduces the operation and design of loudspeakers, the nature of acoustics in various environments such as musical instruments and the influence of room surroundings.

4 lectures per week

None

None

None

Assessment

70% Examination

20% Project Work

10% Set Exercise - 4 x quizzes

Reassessment

In accordance with the University's Code of Assessment reassessments are normally set for all courses which do not contribute to the honours classifications. For non honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students, and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions are listed below in this box.

It is not possible to offer reassessment in group project work in this course. Students failing to complete the group project work, without good cause, will receive a Credit Refused (CR) grade and will be required to re-attend the course the following year.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The aims of this course are to:

■ present the basic theory of the vibration of mechanical systems and the theory of sound production by vibrations and resonance of mechanical structures;

■ explain the of principles of operation of Helmholtz resonators and acoustic waves through pipes;

■ design and operation of moving coil transducers as loudspeakers and the effects of mounting loudspeakers in various types of cabinet upon output performance;

■ describe the nature of sound, the theory of wave propagation, and the basic mathematical tools and measurement techniques commonly used in acoustical analysis;

■ introduce the propagation of sound waves through different media;

■ describe how sound transmission and perception is affected in enclosed spaces such as rooms and concert halls;

■ describe the acoustical properties of such spaces, and how they can be characterised and measured;

■ provide the student with opportunity to implement theoretical research learned in lectures combined with personal research in the design of a practical loudspeaker setup.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ evaluate the operation of a Simple Harmonic oscillator;

■ evaluate the operation of a Damped and Forced oscillator;

■ apply the concept of energy, power and quality factor in vibrating systems;

■ apply the concept of superposition of multiple vibrations ("beats");

■ evaluate the operation of a Helmholtz Resonator, including resonance and quality factor;

■ evaluate the transmission and reflection of acoustic waves through pipes;

■ apply the concept of pipes as acoustic filters;

■ evaluate the transmission of acoustic waves through open and closed pipes;

■ evaluate the operation of a moving coil transducer;

■ apply the concept of radiation impedance;

■ evaluate the influence of mounting a speaker upon speaker operation;

■ evaluate the impact of mounting a speaker within and enclosed, open and bass reflex cabinet, upon speaker performance;

■ evaluate sound waves in various media and represent them mathematically;

■ apply the concept of plane and spherical sound waves;

■ apply the concept of attenuation and dispersion to sound waves;

■ evaluate the operation of the ear.

Students must attend the degree examination and submit at least 75% by weight of the other components of the course's summative assessment.

Note that these are minimum requirements: good students will achieve far higher participation/submission rates.  Any student who misses an assessment or a significant number of classes because of illness or other good cause should report this by completing a MyCampus absence report.