Basics of Acoustic Science

The act of hearing sound is an important communication and sensory medium with the surroundings. Sound is a wave that can be defined scientifically similar to the other mechanical waves in physics. The science of sound is acoustics that deals with the propagation of mechanical waves in various mediums such as solid, liquid and gases. As modern lifestyle includes the applications of acoustics in many fields, it is essential to understand the science of sound for people involved in acoustic applications. Various disciplines of acoustics include musical designs, vibration, noise pollution control, audiology, speech, vibration, underwater communication, audio signal processing, automotive acoustics, aeroacoustics, structural acoustics, bioacoustics, ultrasound, vibration control and environmental noise control. This chapter deals with the concept of sound waves and basic terminologies associated with acoustic science. Sound generation and propagation is covered in detail. Furthermore, sound measurement and different sound classification systems are also covered