Acoustic theory

Article

Acoustic theory is the mathematical and physical study of sound generation, propagation, interaction, and reception. It describes sound as mechanical disturbances travelling through gases, liquids, or solids.

The theory uses quantities such as pressure, particle velocity, displacement, density, frequency, wavelength, phase, and acoustic impedance. In fluids, many sound fields are modelled with the wave equation.

Boundary conditions determine reflection, transmission, absorption, diffraction, standing waves, and resonance. The shape and material of rooms, pipes, instruments, barriers, and enclosures therefore strongly affect acoustic behaviour.

Acoustic theory supports architectural acoustics, musical acoustics, noise control, sonar, ultrasound, speech science, seismology, and audio engineering. Linear models describe many ordinary situations, while nonlinear acoustics is needed for intense sound, shock waves, and other large-amplitude effects.

Source details and credits

• Source / publisher: Wikipedia
• URL type: WWW
• Credits: Wikipedia
• URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_theory