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Physics LibreTexts

13: Acoustics

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  • 13.1: Acoustic Waves
    This page provides an overview of wave phenomena with a focus on acoustic waves, comparing them to electromagnetic waves in theory and application. It discusses the mathematical formulation of acoustic wave equations, phase and group velocities, and their propagation characteristics. Key concepts such as acoustic impedance, intensity, and energy balance in resonators are explored, alongside practical examples.
  • 13.2: Acoustic waves at interfaces and in guiding structures and resonators
    This page covers the behavior of acoustic waves at boundaries, emphasizing boundary conditions and parameters influencing reflection and transmission coefficients. It discusses acoustic waveguides, resonators, sound production in speech, and the relevant mathematical frameworks. Concepts such as Snell's law, Brewster's angle, and the significance of resonant frequencies are explained.
  • 13.3: Acoustic Radiation and Antennas
    This page discusses the emission of acoustic waves from vibrating surfaces, starting with point sources to craft desired radiation patterns through superposition. It explores the behavior of spherically symmetric monopole radiators, including wave propagation and energy transmission efficiency.
  • 13.4: Electrodynamic-acoustic devices
    This page explores various magneto-acoustic and electro-acoustic devices, highlighting loudspeakers, magnetostrictive devices, and the dual role of electro-acoustic components as actuators and sensors. It also discusses opto-acoustic-wave transducers and their role in signal processing, as well as the use of shear waves for filters and transformers. High-Q resonators are noted for their construction from quartz, owing to its excellent mechanical properties.

Thumbnail: Animation showing how a horn loudspeaker works. (Public Domain; Chetvorno via Wikipedia)


This page titled 13: Acoustics is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by David H. Staelin (MIT OpenCourseWare) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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