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Music

Many aspects of music require an understanding of physics. Musical instruments are constrained by the laws of physics and the development of instruments could not have progressed without the knowledge gained through the study of physics. This page showcases music created to demonstrate physics principles produced by Professor Bailey's physics students.

Gorgeous - Wyatt Horner
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"I play guitar and I showed how bending one string so that the note slowly reaches the same resonant frequency of another note creates beat frequencies. This technique is used frequently in popular modern music, so I demonstrated this by using the technique while playing Kanye West’s song Gorgeous." 

Beats - Jonathan Trinh
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"My music shows the

difference between two waves with different

frequencies. In the auditory aspect the first

sound with a frequency of 3Hz can be heard

oscillating slowly with distinct change of

pressure from rarefaction to compression.

The second sound had a frequency of 9Hz and

was oscillating much quicker and can be heard

distinctly. When the song continues, the first

sound is played again with the second sound

playing a melody. Both sounds playing at the

same time is much muddier. Beating can be

heard and clears up at sections when both

frequencies try to equalize. The song

continues, but now the second sound is

played with the first sound playing the

melody. The same result occurs with the two

frequencies trying to reach an equilibrium.

The song finishes with the first and second

sound seperately like the beginning. There are

limitations to this art project because it is

more auditory oriented than visual. The visual

provides a concept of what the waves look

like but each sound is being propagated at

different times and cannot be seen visually

but only via audio."

© 2019 by Stephanie Bailey

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