The physics of music and color

Description

The Physics of Music and Color deals with two subjects, music and color - sound and light in the physically objective sense - in a single volume. The basic underlying physical principles of the two subjects overlap greatly: both music and color are manifestations of wave phenomena, and commonalities exist as to the production, transmission, and detection of sound and light. This book aids readers in studying both subjects, which involve nearly the entire gamut of the fundamental laws of classical as well as modern physics. Where traditional introductory physics and courses are styled so that the basic principles are introduced first and are then applied wherever possible, this book is based on a motivational approach: it introduces a subject by demonstrating a set of related phenomena, challenging readers by calling for a physical basis for what is observed. The Physics of Music and Color is written at level suitable for college students without any scientific background, requiring only simple algebra and a passing familiarity with trigonometry. It contains numerous problems at the end of each chapter that help the reader to fully grasp the subject. Front Matter....Pages i-xxii Introductory Remarks....Pages 1-10 The Vibrating String....Pages 11-62 The Vibrating Air Column....Pages 63-85 Energy....Pages 87-125 Electricity, Magnetism, and Electromagnetic Waves....Pages 127-178 The Atom as a Source of Light....Pages 179-204 The Principle of Superposition....Pages 205-229 Propagation Phenomena....Pages 231-303 The Ear....Pages 305-326 Psychoacoustics....Pages 327-351 Tuning, Intonation, and Temperament: Choosing Frequencies for Musical Notes....Pages 353-381 The Eye....Pages 383-396 Characterizing Light Sources Color Filters and Pigments....Pages 397-412 Theory of Color Vision....Pages 413-471 Back Matter....Pages 473-540