Sound Environment Shapers
Figure 1. Acoustical engineers help design auditoriums.Copyright Memorial Auditorium, City of Chattanooga, TN http://www.chattanooga.gov/
Students are introduced to the sound environment as an important aspect of a room or building. Several examples of acoustical engineering design for varied environments are presented. Students learn the connections between the science of sound waves and engineering design for sound environments.
Acoustical engineers are specialists who design the sound environments around and inside buildings in which sound is an important issue. Acoustic designs may include enhancing sound environments (such as theaters, auditoriums, libraries or music recording studios) or creating sound barriers to reduce unwanted sounds (such residential areas along highways).
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe the role of an acoustical engineer.
- List several common designed or "natural" acoustic features of a building.
- Make an observation that sound travels as wave energy.
- Use the science of sound waves to explain how designed sound environments work.