last updated: November 1, 2022

T-Th, 7:00-8:50 pm, A110 Physics-Astronomy Building

Enrollment is not limited. If you were unable to register, come to class and see me!

Instructor: R. J. Wilkes
B208-A Physics-Astronomy Bldg. (ring doorbell by B-208 lab door)
(206) 543-4232 (but email is best)
wilkes@uw.edu

Office hours: after class, or by appointment

Textbooks:
Fundamentals of Acoustics, by Lawrence E. Kinsler, et al, Wiley, 3rd or 4th edition
Why You Hear What You Hear, by Eric J. Heller, Princeton University Press, 2013
Copies available at the University Book Store, UW branch.
Copies also on 4-hour reserve at the Odegaard Undergraduate Library reserve desk (open extended hours most days). 

Course website: http://courses.washington.edu/phys536
Handouts will be available on the course website, along with any slides shown in class.
Course Canvas page:  https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1258680  will be used only for posting grades and for links to recorded online class sessions. See website above for detailed course info.

Format: 

End-of-term exam: Exam will be take-home, multiple choice, open book and notes. Questions will be similar to homework problems. Exam will be issued at end of last class session on Thursday, March 14, and your answer sheet must be emailed to me before 5 pm on Monday, March 18.

Independent study reports: Two reports required. Choose topics relevant to the class and write brief (5p max) term papers using two or more references (may be books, websites, or articles). Topic must be narrow enough for you to give a reasonable report in 5 pages. Examples of suitable topics: describe contemporary acoustic devices or systems, recent advances in acoustics, applications of acoustics in current research in physics or related fields, or see list of acoustics-related articles for further ideas.
Report 1 will be submitted as a term paper, about 5 pages long.
Report 2 will be a brief (10 min) presentation in class at the end of the term.
Preparing reports: you can get help and access to presentation preparation software at the Odegaard Learning Commons. 
You can also get help with term paper writing at the Odegaard Writing & Research Center. 
Both are in the Odegaard Undergraduate Library.

Grades:  Grades will be based on your score on your 2 independent study reports, and the multiple choice end-of-term take-home exam (issued in last class session on Thursday, March 14; your exam answer sheet must be emailed to me before 5 pm the following Monday, March 18).

Reference Materials: See link on home page for resources you might want to look at in addition to the textbooks.

Safety: Students concerned about walking alone to their car or bus after class can call the ASUW campus escort service (UW- CARES) at 685-WALK.