Math & Physics Physics in the Arts

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PHYS 1302 – Physics and the Arts

Course Syllabus

Winter 2010

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Description: Analysis of the physics of light and sound, and how our eyes and ears detect them. Understanding the physics of light and sound is intended to increase the appreciation for works of art and music, and may even stimulate the artists and musicians among the students to deepen their knowledge of their media, of how people interface with them, and perhaps improve their art/music. Students will only be required to do simple computations, including fractions, and very elementary high school algebra.

General Education Goals & Competencies: The following General Education goals and competencies are addressed:

1. To think creatively: Can develop a unique, original approach to solving a problem.

2. To better understand the natural world: Can analyze the natural world and human efforts to achieve progress through involvement with it.

3. To use mathematics to better understand applied situations: Can use tools such as graphs, statistics, logarithms, etc. to analyze relevant data and/or test hypotheses.

Assessment will include quizzes, homework assignments, exams, and hands-on activities.

Objectives: Each student will (1) develop a conceptual understanding of the basic principles of light and sound; (2) understand the application of light and sound phenomena in painting, photography, and music.

Scope: The course is split into two sections: the first covers light and includes light waves, reflection, refraction, lenses, the eye, photography, color and color vision, additive and subtractive color mixing, and color generating mechanisms. The second section on sound covers periodic oscillations, simple harmonic motion, damped oscillations and resonance, adding sound sources: beats and harmony, sound waves, sound perception, the ear, vibration of strings, pipes, Fourier analysis, musical scales, and musical instruments.

Instructor: Dr. Buxton L. Johnson, Sr.

Present lectures that compliment the book and reinforce learning objectives; ensure that all components of the course are coordinated and sequenced according to the syllabus; provide help sessions and additional instruction as requested (only simple examples and problems will normally be worked in class); ensure testing and subsequent grading is equitable and consistent; and guide students in hands-on activities making measurements in light and sound.

Students: You

Study assigned sections prior to class; read and attempt to work through assigned problems prior to deadline; develop and maintain a physics & the arts reference sheet (one side of an 8.5” x 11” paper for each exam); seek addition help early--use instructor’s office hours or make appointments--use Plus Center tutors; participate in study groups within the guidelines of Kentucky Wesleyan’s rules on plagiarism; visit online tutoring sites; and test yourself before the exam!

Graded Events

Class

Regular quizzes will be given during class using the Turning Point student response system. In addition, regular homework assignments will be assigned. Furthermore, a midterm exam and final exam will be administered. These exams will cover class material, class quizzes, and homework assignments.

Hands-On Activities

Each student will participate in various hands-on activities utilizing the PASCO DataStudio Data Acquisition & Analysis System to conduct real-time measurements in light and sound. These activities will be completed during class and submitted to the instructor for credit.

Schedule

Ch 1 – Light and Light Waves

Ch 2 – Reflection and Refraction

Ch 3 – Lenses

Ch 4 – The Eye

Ch 5 – Photography

Ch 6 – Color and Color Vision

Ch 7 – Additive Color Mixing

Ch 8 – Subtractive Color Mixing

Ch 9 – Color-Generating Mechanisms

Midterm Exam

Ch 10 – Periodic Oscillations

Ch 11 – Simple Harmonic Motion

Ch 12 – Damped Oscillations and Resonance

Ch 13 – Adding Sound Sources: Beats and Harmony

Ch 14 – Sound Waves

Ch 15 – Sound Perception

Ch 16 – The Ear

Ch 17 – Vibration of Strings

Ch 18 – Pipes

Ch 19 – Fourier Analysis

Ch 20 – Musical Scales

Ch 21 – Musical Instruments

Final Exam

Detailed Class Schedule
Class(C)	Topic	Study/Homework/Quiz
C1: M 1-4	Introduction: Light & Light Waves Speed of Light Electromagnetic Spectrum Polarization	Ch 1, Sec 1-3
C2: M 1-4	Introduction: Reflection & Refraction Specular Reflection of Light Refraction of Light Total Internal Reflection Reflection and Refraction in Diamonds The Rainbow	Ch 2, Sec 1-5
C3: M 1-4	Hands-On Activity #1	49 – General Properties of Waves 57 – Reflection and Refraction
C4:T 1-5	Introduction: Lenses The Prism Converging and Diverging Lenses Focal Length	Ch 3, Sec 1-3 TP Quiz#1 HW#1 (Chapters 1 & 2)
C5: T 1-5	Images: Virtual and Real Three Easy Rays The Lenses Formula Lens Aberration	Ch 3, Sec 4-7 TP Quiz#2
C6: T 1-5	Hands-On Activity #2	56 – Object and Image Distances
C7: W 1-6	Introduction: The Eye Accommodation Eyeglasses Nearsighted Eye Farsighted Eye Astigmatic Eye	Ch 4, Sec 1-5 TP Quiz#3 HW#2 (Chapter 3)
C8: W 1-6	Introduction: Photography The Camera Focusing The Camera Choosing The Exposure Time Choosing The Aperture Depth of Field The Film Digital Photography Putting It All Together	Ch 5, Sec 1-8 TP Quiz#4
C9: W 1-6	Hands-On Activity #3	59 – Optical Instruments
Th 1-7	No Class	Due To Weather
C10: F 1-8	Introduction: Color & Color Vision Color Color Sensitivity of the Eye Physical and Psychological Color Color: Hue, Saturation & Brightness Light Interaction With Other Objects Scattering or Diffuse Reflection	Ch 6, Sec 1-6 TP Quiz#5 HW#3 (Chapters 4 & 5)
C11: F 1-8	Introduction: Additive Color Mixing Primary Colors Adding Primary Colors The Color Triangle	Ch 7, Sec 1-3 TP Quiz#6
C12: F 1-8	Hands-On Activity #4	55 – Shadow and Color in White Light
C13: M 1-11	Low-Intensity Colors Spectral Colors Non-Spectral Colors Summary Additive Color Mixing in Painting	Ch 7, Sec 4-8 TP Quiz#7 HW#4 (Chapter 6)
C14: M 1-11	Introduction: Subtractive Color Mixing Filters Subtractive Primary Colors Color Photography	Ch 8, Sec 1-3 TP Quiz#8
C15: M 1-11	Pigments Change in Saturation Why Do Blue and Yellow Make Green Change in Hue	Ch 8, Sec 4-7
C16: T 1-12	Introduction: Color Generating Mechanisms Illuminating Light Pigments Structural Color: Iridescence Color in Gemstones	Ch 9, Sec 1-8 TP Quiz#9 HW#5 (Chapter 7) HW#6 (Chapters 8 & 9)
C17: T 1-12	Introduction: Periodic Oscillations Displacement Graph The Period T and the Frequency f Large and Small Numbers Speed of Motion	Ch 10, Sec 1-4 TP Quiz#10
C18: T 1-12	Hands-On Activity #5	34 – Simple Harmonic Motion
C19: W 1-13	Review
C20: W 1-13	Midterm Exam (Ch 1-9)	100-minute exam
C21: W 1-13
C22: Th 1-14	Introduction: Simple Harmonic Motion The Spring Constant Oscillation Frequency for SHM Wave Shape of SHM Phase Angle	Ch 11, Sec 1-4 TP Quiz#11
C23: Th 1-14	Introduction: Damped Oscillations and Resonance Damped Oscillations Resonance Build-up Decay of Musical Tones Applications in Music	Ch 12, Sec 1-4 TP Quiz#12
C24: Th 1-14	Continue Damped Oscillations and Resonance
C25: F 1-15	Introduction: Adding Sound Sources: Beats and Harmony Principle of Superposition Three Special Cases Beats Harmony Lissajous Figures	Ch 13, Sec 1-5 TP Quiz#13 HW#7 (Chapters 10 & 11)
C26: F 1-15	Introduction: Sound Waves Propagation of a Pulse Longitudinal and Transverse Waves Sound Waves in Air Speed of Sound in Air Wavelength and Frequency Sound Propagation Interference of Sound Waves Concert Hall Acoustics	Ch 14, Sec 1-8 TP Quiz#14
C27: F 1-15	Hands-On Activity #6 Hands-On Activity #7 Hands-On Activity #8	54 – Interference of Sound Waves 48 – Transverse/Longitudinal Waves 52 – Speed of Sound in Air
M 1-18	Martin Luther King Day	No Class
C28: T 1-19	Introduction: Sound Perception Loudness and Amplitude Loudness and Frequency Pitch Discrimination Introduction: The Ear The Parts of the Ear Place Theory of Pitch Perception What Do the Auditory Nerves Tell the Brain?	Ch 15, Sec 1-3 Ch 16, Sec 1-3 TP Quiz#15 HW#8 (Chapters 12 & 13)
C29: T 1-19	Introduction: Vibrations of Strings Single Modes Higher Modes Traveling Verses Standing Waves The Voicing Formula How Do Modes Relate to Music? Damping of Higher Partials Playing Harmonics Real Strings Have Some Stiffness	Ch 17, Sec 1-9 TP Quiz#16
C30: T 1-19	Hands-On Activity #9	50 – Standing Waves on a String
C31: W 1-20	Introduction: Pipes Pressure Pulse in a Pipe Reflections in Open and Closed Pipes Standing Waves in Open Pipes Fundamental Frequency of Open Pipe Fundamental Mode of Closed Pipe Higher Modes of Closed Pipe Playing Tunes on Wind Instruments Other Shapes Acoustic Length	Ch 18, Sec 1-10 TP Quiz#17 HW#9 (Chapters 14, 15, & 16)
C32: W 1-20	Introduction: Fourier Analysis The Fourier Theorem Sound Spectrum Fourier Analyzer Fourier Synthesis Why Can’t We Synthesize a Stradivari?	Ch 19, Sec 1-5 TP Quiz#18
C33: W 1-20	Hands-On Activity #10	51 – Resonance Modes in a Tube
C34: Th 1-21	Introduction: Musical Scales Musical Intervals Consonance (Harmony) The Major Triad Constructing a Scale: The Just Scale Whole and Half Tone Intervals Names of Intervals Transposing: Why Black Keys? Perfection Sacrificed: Tempered Scale Major and Minor Scales The Natural Scale	Ch 20, Sec 1-10 TP Quiz#19 HW#10 (Chapters 17 & 18) HW#11 (Chapter 19)
C35: Th 1-21	Introduction: Musical Instruments Structure of Musical Instruments Excitation Mechanism Playing a Tune	Ch 21, Sec 1-3 TP Quiz#20
C36: Th 1-21	Redo Hands-On Activity #10	51 – Resonance Modes in a Tube
C37: F 1-22	Review	HW#12 (Chapters 20)
C38: F 1-22	Final Exam (Ch 10-21)	100-minute exam
C39: F 1-22

ATTENDANCE – Your grade in this course is likely to be strongly influenced by your class attendance. Exam questions are designed to cover very specifically the topics as they are discussed in class. In addition, quiz questions will often appear on exams. Three absences are allowed without affecting the student's grade. Beyond this, each additional absence will result in a 20-point reduction in the final grade.

MAKEUP EXAMS – Students who are forced to miss an exam due to unavoidable circumstances (illness, death in the family, athletic tournament, etc.) must contact the instructor. The instructor will determine if the absence is to be excused in accordance with Kentucky Wesleyan regulations on excused absences. Students with an excused absence will be allowed to take a makeup exam. No more than one makeup exam will be approved for any student except in unusual and very well documented cases.

EXAM DISCREPANCIES – Students with exam discrepancies should record, specifically, those items they would like considered for re-evaluation and return their exam to the instructor before leaving the classroom. All other students can retain their exams. No consideration will be given to exam discrepancies submitted after the student has left the classroom.

LATE WORK – Only one late homework assignment will be accepted for credit.

CHEATING – The first time a student is found cheating, copying, etc., a zero will be given on the compromised work. The second time will result in failure of the course.

Grading Policy

Graded Event

Points

Class Quizzes(20)

60

Homework Assignments(12)

100

Hands-On Activities(10)

100

Midterm Exam

120

Final Exam

120

Course Total

500

Final Grade Assignments are based on the percentage of course points earned according to the following schedule:

• 90% and above – A
• 80% and above – B
• 70% and above – C
• 60% and above – D
• below 60% – F

Academic Accommodations

Kentucky Wesleyan College is committed to providing access to programs and services for qualified students with disabilities. If you are a student with a disability and require accommodations to participate and complete requirements for this class, notify the instructor immediately and contact Dr. Leah Hoover at the Office of Disability Services for verification of eligibility and determination of specific accommodations.

Academic Help

Several Kentucky Wesleyan offices can be helpful in aiding students.

• Office of Disability Services, 23 Faculty Office Building, (270) 852-3212
• Darrell Plus Center, Library Learning Center, (270) 852-3298
• Academic Dean’s Office, 105 Barnard-Jones Administration Building, (270) 852-3117