* Introduction to Acoustics: Explore the nature of sound, sound waves, their properties such as frequency and amplitude, and how they interact with our ears to create perception. Each musical instrument produces a characteristic vibration. The vibrations spread through the air forming sound waves that, when they reach the ear, allow us to identify the instrument, even if we cannot see it. The four examples shown represent typical waveforms of some common instruments. A tuning fork generates a pure sound, and vibrates regularly with a rounded waveform. A violin generates a clear sound and a jagged waveform. The flute generates a soft sound and a relatively rounded waveform. The tuning fork, violin, and flute play the same note, so the distance between the wave maxima is the same in all waveforms. A gong does not vibrate regularly like the first three instruments. Its waveform is jagged and random, and you usually cannot recognize the note. Sound is defined as th...