I've been tasked with producing a 2000-4000 word document for A-level physics coursework. The criteria is simple: I can write about anything related to physics, which is not beyond my intellectual reach, but not based on simple physics. The idea essentially is to create a vaguely interesting, informative document which examines something in more detail than we usually would at our level.

Seeing as I'm technically minded, and do some low-level sound reinforcement work, I thought I'd look at live sound to see if there's anything I could write about. I'm looking for mid-level physics...I was think of possibly doing acoustics (apparently it can get quite complex), as something like cancellation from improperly placed speakers is too basic (very basic wave superposition). However, before I launch myself into this, I'm curious in case anyone else here has any ideas/suggestions.

Many thanks, and hope you're all enjoying the summer,

James

The yamaha live sound reenforcement handbook has some excelent information which should translate to an A level physics essay quite well. That should definatly be on your list of research books.

James

Acoustic - Complex?! you bet!!

I used to dread the lectures at uni when the Prof would suggest turning your paper Landscape so that you had enough space to write the equations down!

a book that was invaluable to me is called "Acoustics and Psychoacoustics"



or you could try having a chat with Mr.Si (blue room member), he was occasionally in the same lectures as me and now works for an acoustics company so should be a good person to get to know.

cheers,
Si,

Do a few google searches on sub frequencies, Infrasound, simple harmonic motion, resonance and you will have a basis for a paper which could easly cover 4000+ words theres loads of reasearch been done on the effects of high level subharmonic sound on the human body. I done this at college a few years back and it was fascinating.

Having recently been on someone's degree panel to look over their 4000 essay I was suprised how short a 4000 word essay is. You'll only manage to scratch the surface of any technical topic unless you are very narrow with your remit.

James: I'll go hunting for a copy tomorrow Many thanks.

Simon: Yep, that's what I was worried about...I may push that lower down the list if it's going to be too difficult. I was intrigued by your mention of psychoacoustics and just had a quick google I'd look into that, but it seems to be more biology than physics.

Andy: that sounds related to some stuff I've read before about the infamous "brown note" and research around it. Maybe I could do a paper on non-lethal weaponry based on sound Thanks for the suggestions.

Brian: true. I worked it out to be something like 7 solid typed pages of A4. Not much considering I was given all summer, and 4000 is the maximum. I'll probably end up condensing whatever I write, or using lots of diagrams.

Many thanks to you all for your quick and helpful replies. I'll have a think and do some preliminary research, and post when I know what I'm doing. Again, cheers for all the kind help guys.

And you're just starting now... I never did that for my A levels. Or whilst I was at University...

I think you might need to use some quantitative examples at A level - these might be difficult to measure... but it is a more interesting subject than something like Youngs Modulus...

Dave M.