FRS 002, Sec. 26--Freshman Seminar -- Fall 2019
Applications of Waves-From Music to Imaging Atoms
Instructor: Shirley
Chiang, Department of Physics, 235 Physics/Geology, tel:
530-754-0562
E-mail: chiang@physics.ucdavis.edu
Description:
What
makes a violin sound different from a piano or a clarinet?
We will explore the
differences between musical pitches and timbres by using
wave theory from
physics. The objective of the course is for students to see
how physical
principles can be used to explain the world around them.
Wave theory will be
applied to two very different topics, one classical and one
modern: music and
quantum mechanics. The course will use physics to study the
properties and
production of musical sounds. A wide variety of physics
demonstrations and
musical instruments will be used to reveal physical
properties and stimulate
discussion. Finally, modern quantum mechanics and its
dependence on wave theory
will be used to explain the operation of the scanning
tunneling microscope
(STM), a scientific instrument which is used to image
individual atoms on a
surface. Atomic scale images produced by this microscope are
relevant to the
fabrication of small structures for integrated circuits
which make possible new
technological advances in computers.
Seminar
Goals:
Students
will work to develop effective communication skills through
two presentations
and the final paper. One presentation will be the
description of the operation
of a computer component, and the other is the presentation
of the final
project, which is the design and construction of a musical
instrument. Students
will also develop their writing skills by writing a final
paper that describes
the final project in detail. Students will develop high
cognitive skills and
prepare for lifelong learning by applying the scientific
method to determine
the design of the final project. They will understand the
relationship of
physics concepts, such as frequency, amplitude and wave
shape of sound waves,
to musical properties such as pitch, loudness, and timbre.
They will learn why
different instruments playing the same note sound different
to one’s ears, how
musical scales relate to the mathematical ratios of
frequencies of sound waves,
and how the construction of different musical instruments
relates to their
production of varying sounds. Physical principles will also
be used to
understand the operation of stereo sound systems, parts of a
digital computer
and how they operate, digitized computer music, the
operation of the STM, and
how fabrication of small structures applies to high
technology devices.
Gallery of Project
Photos from Past Classes
Information for building wind instruments
Garden Hose
Recorder
How
do
you decide where to put the holes?
Interesting (and relevant) WWW Links
Professor Shirley Chiang
10/2/2019