SPH3U Hand-out 4.3c: Sounds Like a Career for Me!

1. Engineers are often blamed for structural disasters, such as the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows
Bridge. Do you think that the head civil engineer who oversaw the design and construction of the
Tacoma Narrows Bridge should be held legally responsible for the collapse of the bridge? Please
defend your response. For a level 4, relate to physics you have learned re: sound. (~3 sentences)
No, I don’t think the head civil engineer should be blamed or be held responsible for the collapse of
the tacoma narrows bridge because during the time the bridge was built(1940), aerodynamic force
was little understood in physics. The main cause that induced this disaster was the light deck and lack
of trusses. In normal bridges, trusses allow the wind to naturally pass through but because this bridge
didn’t have any, the wind had to flow separately above and below — unnaturally. This unnatural,
aerodynamic shape of the bridge caused a self-induced harmonic motion a periodic motion in which an
object oscillates back and forth due to the restoring force that is proportional to the displacement and moves in a opposite
direction from the displacement, meaning that when the bridge twisted to one side, its restoring force
twisted it in the other direction, which built up a torsional vibration and eventually a collapse.

2. Acoustics is the study of waves and sound. ). Choose the three fields from the general descriptions
of fields within acoustics that you find most interesting, then:

Career Description in 25 words or less Would you be good at it?! Why or why not?!

Noise control Helps solve the noise pollution in No, I think I won’t excel at this because I’m more
our society by controlling the of a analytical thinker rather than a creative
noise at the source and the path thinker; so I might not be good at designing an
it travels. effective, customized soundproof products.

Bioacoustics study of animal species that use
and medical
sound waves as signals and/or
acoustics the application of acoustics in
human and animal tissues.
Yes, I think I will be good at it because I have a huge
interest in biology, especially the communication and
behaviors of animals. So it would be very intriguing to find
out what specific sound waves mean something in the
animal’s language such as in dolphins and whales. And the
job is mostly about observing and analyzing, which fits me
as a keen observer.

Musical Study how sound is produced
acoustics
from a musical instrument and
how it is perceived through
melody or harmony
Yes, I think I’ll be good at it or at least be interested in this
career. Because as a music instrument player, I think
understanding the very basics (acoustic/the physic of
sound) is critical to improving my skill overall, and learning
musical acoustics will allow me to scientifically determine
why my sound (violin/piano) is poor and easily fix the
problem.
 CAREERS IN ACOUSTICS
Architectural Acoustics
Architectural acoustics deals with sound in and around buildings of all kinds. Good acoustical design ensures the efficient distribution
of desirable sounds as well as the exclusion of undesirable sound. It is the branch of acoustics that comes most readily to mind when
a layperson thinks of "acoustics."
Nearly everyone is aware of the importance of good acoustical design in concert halls, recording studios, auditoriums, and churches.
But people spend more of their time in homes, offices, factories, or classrooms where little or no attention may have been given to
the acoustical environment. Good acoustics should, and can, be engineered during the design of the building, since changes at a
later time are expensive.
Growing public awareness of the importance of good acoustical design in buildings of all types will lead to a greater need for
acoustical specialists and greater emphasis on acoustics in the training of architects, engineers, and other building professionals.

Engineering Acoustics
Engineering acoustics deals with transducers and sound measuring instruments of all kinds. A transducer is a device that converts
sound energy into some other type of energy or vice versa. A microphone converts sound energy into electrical energy, a
loudspeaker converts electrical energy into sound energy.
Engineering acoustics also includes instrumentation for medical diagnosis, communications, seismic surveying, recording and
reproducing speech and music, and other challenging problems.
Most universities do not offer a degree specifically in acoustical engineering, but professionals in engineering acoustics may have
degrees in electrical, mechanical, or aeronautical engineering, physics, or related areas. Engineers with training and experience in
acoustics are very much in demand in industry.
Electroacoustics is a branch of engineering acoustics that deals with microphones, loudspeakers, and other transducers, as well as
the recording and reproduction of sound.
In Europe there are special courses to prepare a person for the position of "tonmeister," one who is trained in both music and
engineering. In this country such a person might be called an "audio engineer" or a "musical engineer" and the position might be
that of "recording director" or "technical director." Needless to say, these positions are very much sought after. A strong preparation
in music, acoustics, and electronics is necessary. Most entrants into the professional audio field begin as audio technicians to gain
the necessary experience.
Persons who combine a solid background in acoustics with education or experience in business are very much in demand in the
rapidly growing audio entertainment industry. A candidate is well advised to include courses in digital electronics, and computer
programming because of the growing importance of digital sound processing and recoding in the audio field.

Musical Acoustics
Musical acoustics deals with the way in which we hear and perceive musical sound, the instruments that produce it, and even the
structure of melody and harmony. It combines elements of both the arts and science.
A number of researchers in this area study the way in which sound is produced in musical instruments. Others study subjective
qualities of musical sound, such as pitch, loudness, and timbre. Much attention has focused recently on the use of digital computers
to produce sound and to compose music.
Persons with training and experience in musical acoustics frequently work in the entertainment industry, in education, in recording
and film studios, or in the musical instrument industry. It is a rewarding field for someone with a strong interest in music as well as
in science.

Noise Control
Noise has been receiving increasing recognition as one of our critical environmental pollution problems. Like air and water pollution,
noise pollution increases with population density. In our urban areas, it is a serious threat to the quality of life. Noise-induced
hearing loss is a major health problem. Noise also robs us of sleep and interferes with communication. Solving a noise problem
requires an understanding of the noise source, the path of the sound, and the receiver (usually a person or group of people). The
best place to control noise is at the source, but frequently control of the path and protection of the receiver are necessary as well.
Finding technical solutions to our environmental noise problems requires the work of scientists and engineers with considerable
knowledge of acoustics. Since many problems require political or social action, knowledge of political science, sociology, and the law
are important as well.
Physical Acoustics
Physical Acoustics deals with the way in which sound waves propagate in solids, liquids, gases, and plasmas, and how they interact
with these materials. Of special interest are sound waves of very high frequency (more that one billion vibrations per second) and
very high intensity. High-frequency sound waves in solids are called phonons because they behave like particles. At temperatures
near absolute zero, scientists have observed some strange waves that are called "second sound," "third sound," etc. Observing their
behavior has helped physicists understand the quantum behavior of liquids.
Subatomic particles, such as protons, muons, and even the elusive neutrino, have been detected by the sound they make as they
travel at high speeds through the ocean.
Many new frontiers exist in this exciting field of research. Most researchers have advanced degrees in physics.
Speech and Hearing
The ability to communicate by spoken language is unique to man. We tend to take speech communication for granted, yet many
aspects of it all still not completely understood. Some speech scientists are engaged in basic studies of speech production and
perception, while others design machines that recognize verbal messages or individual speakers. Research that seeks to understand
how man produces and perceives speech is leading to the development of methods for improved communication between man and
machine and for more effective training and technical aids for those with disorders of communication. Of equal importance is a
better understanding of hearing. Our ability to perceive and appreciate the sounds around us is essential, both for our survival and
for our pleasure. Although we have learned much from past research about the capabilities of the auditory system, much remains
to be discovered about its underlying physiological and psychological mechanisms. Scientists interested in hearing are currently
studying the peripheral ear, the neural pathway to the brain, and higher-order processing of acoustic information. Potential benefits
of this research include improved transmission of acoustic signals for use by man, more effective procedures to detect abnormal
development of hearing in children, and meaningful guidelines for the protection of hearing in an increasingly noisy environment.

Underwater Acoustics
The use of acoustic energy to "see" or detect objects underwater is analogous to the use of radar for detecting objects in air. In
much the same way that an aircraft is guided through a blinding storm by its radar system, underwater vessels such as submarine
are guided through the depths of the ocean by their acoustic systems.
Since the characteristics of the water environment permit sound to be transmitted over very long distances, sometimes hundreds of
miles, sound is an extremely valuable tool, not only for military applications but also for commercial use. Acoustic signals are used to
detect the presence and location of commercially valuable fish, to map the sea floor to determine the safest "avenues" for
supertankers, and to explore the Earth's geological formations or search for oil deposits beneath the ocean floor. The need for
technological advancements in underwater acoustics will continue to grow over the next decade as man attempts to utilize the sea
to the fullest advantage. This growth will afford many rewarding job opportunities for graduates in acoustics.

Bioacoustics and Medical Acoustics

Bioacoustics deals with the interaction of sound waves with biological tissues in humans and animals. Much recent research in this
area has been concerned with the use of high-frequency ultrasound in medical diagnosis and treatment. Use of ultrasound in
diagnosis avoids some of the danger involved in using x rays and other types of radiation.
Some bioacousticians study the mechanisms by which animals produce acoustic signals and the ways in which other animals detect
and process these signals. Dolphins, bats, and certain species of insects have been widely studied.
Excellent career opportunities exist in this interdisciplinary field for students with an interest in biology and medical science as well as
in acoustics and physics.

Structural Acoustics and Vibration

Vibration is a principal concern of engineers. Large machines must be designed such that their operation is "smooth," without
unwanted vibration. Electronic components of aerospace systems can be damaged by excessive vibration and sudden jolts
(mechanical shocks), but a clever engineer can put basic scientific principles to work to discover ways of either eliminating the
possibility of such vibration or of isolating sensitive equipment from its vibrating environment. Many "disasters," such as the
destruction of a building by an earthquake, the toppling of a tall smokestack, or the collapse of a suspension bridge in a windstorm,
involve vibration, but engineers are continuing to learn new ways of lessening the chance of these disasters taking place. Since
unwanted noise is often caused by vibration, when one seeks to control noise at its source, the problem often reduces to
eliminating or altering vibration. There are also a multitude of applications where vibration is essential, such as in stringed and
percussion instruments, in the design of loudspeakers, in the testing of metallic parts for flaws, in the transporting of very hot metal
parts on moving and vibrating conveyor belts, and in the removal of dirt and soot from surfaces.
Solving a vibration problem often requires the detective skill of a Sherlock Holmes to get to the root of the problem. Not only is the
mathematics involved often very sophisticated, but it also requires a great deal of common sense and ingenuity to express the real
world situation in terms of mathematical relations that can yield useful insights. Since such skills and abilities are in great demand,
many vibration engineers are active as consultants, giving advice to other engineers to help solve their vibration problems