Scatter-plots for acoustics lessons
Scatter-plots for acoustics lessons
Material-selection charts, in the form of grouped scatter plots of material properties of solids, are known to be useful in structural engineering, and as a conceptual tool for teaching. In this article similar plots for the properties of liquids and gases are introduced, and their application to the teaching of acoustics is discussed.Analogous charts for musical strings are presented, highlighting the analogy between the properties of wave-bearing fluids and those of wave-bearing strings. Data from one manufacturer show consistently higher tension for bowed strings than plucked strings, with the exception of the bowed erhu and the plucked mandolin, bothof which have intermediate tension. Questions that could be discussed in class or form the basis of student investigations are suggested throughout.
Fluid properties, Material selection chart, musical instruments, Education
Wright, Matthew C.M.
b7209187-993d-4f18-8003-9f41aaf88abf
23 October 2025
Wright, Matthew C.M.
b7209187-993d-4f18-8003-9f41aaf88abf
Abstract
Material-selection charts, in the form of grouped scatter plots of material properties of solids, are known to be useful in structural engineering, and as a conceptual tool for teaching. In this article similar plots for the properties of liquids and gases are introduced, and their application to the teaching of acoustics is discussed.Analogous charts for musical strings are presented, highlighting the analogy between the properties of wave-bearing fluids and those of wave-bearing strings. Data from one manufacturer show consistently higher tension for bowed strings than plucked strings, with the exception of the bowed erhu and the plucked mandolin, bothof which have intermediate tension. Questions that could be discussed in class or form the basis of student investigations are suggested throughout.
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Accepted/In Press date: 12 October 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 23 October 2025
Published date: 23 October 2025
Keywords:
Fluid properties, Material selection chart, musical instruments, Education
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 507065
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/507065
ISSN: 0003-682X
PURE UUID: 7cb650b4-7b7f-4cde-93df-c825ac5a0db1
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Date deposited: 26 Nov 2025 17:42
Last modified: 27 Nov 2025 02:33
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