Sound Waves and Music Tutorial
This comprensive tutorial serves as an outline for a unit on sound and music. The subject is organized into five lessons, "The Nature of a Sound Wave," "Sound Properties and Their Perception," "Behavior of Sound Waves," "Resonance and Standing Waves," and "Musical Instruments," which are further subdivided into topical links. Each link includes illustrations and questions to check for understanding. Student extras and a teacher's guide provide links to resources for further investigation of sound and music. Sound is described in terms of its wave properties: mechanical, longitudinal, and pressure. Reflection and refraction of waves are explained in terms of mechanical properties. Resonance, interference, shock waves, and standing waves are included. These principles are applied to the music produced by guitar strings and columns of air.
