Should I take 'Physics of Sound'?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential enrollment in a "Physics of Sound" course, focusing on its mathematical rigor, usefulness of concepts, and applications in engineering and teaching. Participants share insights based on the course description and inquire about the level of mathematics involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in the course but seeks information on the difficulty of the mathematics involved, preferring challenging material to enhance problem-solving skills.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of the course description and prerequisites to assess the course's content and level.
  • Some participants note that the course description suggests it may be aimed at a general audience rather than physics majors, indicating a possible lack of advanced topics like Fourier analysis.
  • There is a suggestion that the prerequisites might not exceed those of a first-year physics course and basic calculus.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the course's suitability or difficulty, with differing opinions on its intended audience and mathematical rigor.

Contextual Notes

The discussion lacks specific information about the course prerequisites, which may affect participants' evaluations of the course's appropriateness for their goals.

EternusVia
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Hi all,

This interim there aren't any good math/physics classes at my school, so I'm considering taking "Physics of Sound" at a nearby university.

I'm wondering if it would be worth my time/money. I want to go into engineering or teaching (either way, grad school is ahead of me). How hard is the mathematics in Physics of Sound? (I would prefer that the math is hard, so that if the concepts aren't useful, at least I will have become more skilled at solving tough problems.) How useful are the concepts? What applications do the concepts have?

If anyone has taken physics of sound and could post about their experience, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Edit: Course Description Below

"
PHYSICS OF SOUND (Area 3.2) (4 credits)
This laboratory course introduces students to the physics of sound: its production, transmission, and reception. Lecture and laboratory will give students the opportunity to study wave mechanics and its application to areas including but not limited to music, architecture, and human physiology."
 
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Without seeing the course description and prerequisites, it's impossible to say exactly what it contains, or what level it's being taught at.
 
What does the course description say?
 
jtbell said:
Without seeing the course description and prerequisites, it's impossible to say exactly what it contains, or what level it's being taught at.
I have added the description up top.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
What does the course description say?
I have added the description up top.
 
EternusVia said:
I have added the description up top.

But not the prerequisites.
 
That reads like it might be intended for a general audience, and not specifically for physics majors. It doesn't even mention Fourier analysis, for example. I'd be surprised if the prerequisites were higher than the first-year freshman physics course and the associated math (basic calculus).
 

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