The uniting of two seemingly disparate subjects in the classroom provides an interesting motivation for learning. Students are interested in how these subjects can possibly be integrated into related ideas. Such is the mixture of physics and music. Both are based upon mathematics, which becomes the interlocking theme. The connecting physical properties of sound and music are waves and harmonics. The introduction of instruments, including the voice, to the musical discussion allows the introduction of more advanced physical concepts such as energy, force, pressure, fluid dynamics, and properties of materials. Suggestions on how to teach physics concepts in the context of music at many levels are presented in this paper.
References
1.
G. P.
Ramsey
, “The physics of music course as an introduction to science
,” POMA
18
, 035001
(2014
) and J. Acoust. Soc. Am.
132
, 1957
(2012
); . 2.
D. E.
Hall
, Musical Acoustics
, 3rd ed. (Brooks/Cole Publishing
, Pacific Grove, CA
, 2002
).3.
T. D.
Rossing
, F. R.
Moore
, and P. A.
Wheeler
, The Science of Sound
, 3rd ed. (Addison-Wesley
, San Francisco, CA
, 2002
).4.
H. F.
Olson
, Music, Physics and Engineering
, 2nd ed. (Dover Publications, Inc.
, New York, NY
, 1967
).5.
G. Lyle
Hoffman
and Ismail
Jouny
, “Using music to teach physics
,” Am. J. Phys.
64
, 1304
(Oct.
1996
). Some content and older experiments, need to be updated. 6.
Ivy and Josephs
, “‘Musical sound’—A course for nonscience majors
,” Phys. Teach.
10
, 140
(March
1972
). Lists possible labs (some older but modernizable). 7.
Links to acoustics apparatus: Vernier (http://vernier.com), PASCO scientific (http://pasco.com), Arbor Scientific (http://www.arborsci.com/), Educ. Innovations (pre-HS, http://www.reallygoodstuff.com).
8.
Wave simulations: PhET (http://phet.colorado.edu); particularly (1) Wave Interference, (2) Fourier (3) Making Waves, (4) Sound, and (5) Wave on a String.
9.
NGSS website
, http://www.nextgenscience.org/.10.
K. L.
Gee
and T. B.
Neilsen
, “Resource Letter APPO-1: Acoustics for physics pedagogy and outreach
,” Am. J. Phys.
82
, 825
(Sept.
2014
). 11.
John
Shonle
, “Implementing a course on the physics of music
,” Am. J. Phys.
44
, 240
(March
1976
). Presents the physics with misconceptions outlined and equipment for demos. 12.
Jack
Smith
, “The physics of music: Some suggestions and materials
,” Am. J. Phys.
46
, 303
(March
1978
). Short note on demos. 13.
R. D.
Edge
, “Student experiments in acoustics and physics of music
,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am.
57
, S22
(1975
). © 2015 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2015
American Association of Physics Teachers
AAPT members receive access to The Physics Teacher and the American Journal of Physics as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.
