Project Objective
To build a band of at least three instruments of different instrument types (Woodwind/Brass, Strings, and Melodic Precussion) that can play a full octave scale, with a song to perform.
Key Terms and Concepts
Parts of a Wave:
Wave Speed (v): The rate at which a wave moves in a direction, in m/s. v=λf. Wave Length (λ "Lambda"): The distance from crest to crest (or part to corresponding part in one cycle) of a wave. λ=v/f Amplitude (A): The amount of displacement, or the size or height of a wave. Determines volume. Frequency (f): Rate at which waves or cycles pass in a given amount of time, in waves/sec. or Hertz (Hz). Determines pitch. f=v/λ Period (T): The inverse of frequency, the amount of time per wave or cycle. T~1/f. Longitudinal Wave (Compression Wave): A wave with displacement in the same direction as its motion. (A wave with zones of compression, of high pressure, and zones of expansion, or rarefaction, of low pressure). Needs media like solids, liquids, and gases to displace (Must popagate with a medium). Sound waves, which are compression waves, cannot compress and rarefy a vaccum. Transverse Wave: A wave with displacement perpendicular to the direction of motion (most commonly as a sinusoidal wave). All waves on the Eletromagnetic Spectrum are transverse waves, which don't need a medium to travel in. (Doesn't necessarily need a medium to propagate through, as light seems to have a constant speed, no matter the medium). For more, see Light, which discusses Maxwell's Equations (Page 9) that describes light with propagating vibrations using strengths of electric and magnetic fields, and the Double Slit Experiment (Page 7) which partially explains why light doesn't need a medium. Interference: The resulting wave of superimposed waves. Constructive Interference: The result, when two waves of same orientation, or same type of displacement (postive/negative, and possibly varying amplitudes), combine for a summative effect of the ampitudes of the waves. Destructive Interference: The result when two waves of opposing orientation, or opposing type of displacement (postive with negative) combine for a subtractive effect of the amplitudes of the wave. The diagrams below show examples of constructive waves, when waves are "stacked" with same orientation, and destructive waves, when waves are "stacked" with opposite orientation. Distructive waves can also be caused when identical waves are offset by 1/2 a wave length, causing opposite parts of a wave to combine to 0. Reflection: The bouncing of a wave when changing media.
Diffuse Reflection: Reflection of a non-smooth surface, where the Law of Reflection still applies.
Refraction: The bending of a wave when changing media.
The wave pivots towards the normal because the first part that hits the medium-front slows down, and the end of the wave still travels at the previous velocity, causing a turn, and the wave completely encounters the medium-front and slows.
The Doppler Effect: The increase in frequency of a wave (sound, or light) as the reciever and source move toward or away from each other.
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Parts of a Wave:
Types of Waves:
Below the diagram labeled "Acoustic Longitudinal Wave" is a representation of a sound wave as a transverse wave. The red dots are particles, notice how the particles themselves aren't moved by the wave to the other side, as waves transfer energy, not matter.
Where "E" is the Electric Field, as "B" is the Magnetic Field
Law of Reflection: The angle of incidence (angle in) is equal to the angle of reflection (angle out), perpendicular to a surface (normal).
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About Our Instruments
Reflection
This project went well for me overall. Although within our group we wroked more individually on our instruments, we did have good communication, when one of our members ran into some issues with hole placement, for the wind instruments, or design suggestions during the blueprinting phase. Where I thought our group could have improved was with information processing. What I mean by this is making the research information simpler, or spending time understanding the information, so that it would lead to a higher group productivity. Another way our group could have improved was with time management, especially in regards to moving from the blueprinting-research phase to the materials sourcing and construction phase. I presonally struggled with this as I had spent too much time with the blueprint, that I took away from contruction time. Eventually, I loosley followed what my blueprint had in mind, due to the lack of or substitution of materials. This aside, the project was a very enjoyable experience for me as it brought two things I love together:
Science and Music.
-Nihal Nazeem
Science and Music.
-Nihal Nazeem