Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza logotyp
pl en
en
Fundamentals of acoustics
Course description sheet

Basic information

Field of study
Acoustic Engineering
Major
-
Organisational unit
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics
Study level
First-cycle (engineer) programme
Form of study
Full-time studies
Profile
General academic
Didactic cycle
2025/2026
Course code
RIAKS.Ii4.02500.25
Lecture languages
Polish
Mandatoriness
Obligatory
Block
Core Modules
Course related to scientific research
Yes
Course coordinator
Jerzy Wiciak
Lecturer
Jerzy Wiciak, Adam Pilch, Łukasz Gorazd
Period
Semester 3
Method of verification of the learning outcomes
Exam
Activities and hours
Lectures: 40
Auditorium classes: 15
Laboratory classes: 15
Number of ECTS credits
6

Course's learning outcomes

Code Outcomes in terms of Learning outcomes prescribed to a field of study Methods of verification
Knowledge – Student knows and understands:
W1 posiada ogólną wiedzę z zakresu podstaw akustyki IAK1A_W06, IAK1A_W08, IAK1A_W12, IAK1A_W19, IAK1A_W22 Activity during classes, Execution of exercises, Execution of laboratory classes, Test, Examination
W2 zna pojęcia z zakresu pola akustycznego i modelowania pola akustycznego IAK1A_W06, IAK1A_W10, IAK1A_W12 Activity during classes, Execution of exercises, Execution of laboratory classes, Test, Examination
W3 posiada podstawową wiedzę z zakresu źródeł hałasu oraz ich wpływu na środowisko IAK1A_W22 Activity during classes, Execution of exercises, Execution of laboratory classes, Test, Examination
Skills – Student can:
U1 potrafi dostrzec interdyscyplinarność akustyki, rozróżnia i definiuje podstawowe parametry pola akustycznego, potrafi wykorzystywać metody symulacyjne do modelowania i analizy pola akustycznego IAK1A_U01, IAK1A_U02, IAK1A_U07, IAK1A_U08, IAK1A_U15, IAK1A_U20, IAK1A_U26 Activity during classes, Execution of exercises, Execution of laboratory classes, Examination
U2 potrafi ocenić szkodliwość wpływu różnych źródeł hałasu na człowieka i środowisko IAK1A_U06, IAK1A_U16, IAK1A_U18 Activity during classes, Execution of exercises, Execution of laboratory classes, Examination
Social competences – Student is ready to:
K1 rozumie interdyscyplinarny wymiar działalności inżyniera akustyka, potrafi współpracować ze specjalistami z innych dziedzin inżynieryjnych a także muzykami czy realizatorami dźwięku IAK1A_K05 Activity during classes, Execution of exercises, Execution of laboratory classes, Test, Examination

Student workload

Activity form Average amount of hours* needed to complete each activity form
Lectures 40
Auditorium classes 15
Laboratory classes 15
Preparation for classes 60
Realization of independently performed tasks 30
Examination or final test/colloquium 2
Student workload
Hours
162
Workload involving teacher
Hours
70

* hour means 45 minutes

Program content

No. Program content Course's learning outcomes Activities
1.

1. Introduction. Acoustics, what is it about? Relationship of acoustics with other fields of science, technology and art. Historical view. Place of acoustics among other sciences.


2. Principles of wave motion. The essence of wave motion - vibrations and waves. Mechanical wave. Selected problems of continuous systems mechanics. Harmonic Wave. Basic quantities describing each wave motion.


3. Characteristic wave phenomena. Huygens principle: reflection and refraction of waves, interference, standing waves, diffraction and dispersion.


4. Acoustic field. Basic parameters of the sound field. (Objective and subjective parameters).


5. Sound waves in liquids. Equations describing wave propagation (Euler, mass continuity, thermodynamic equation of state). Wave equation. Elemental solution for harmonic motion: plane wave - one, two and three-dimensional solution, spherical wave. Real and complex notation of quantities describing the sound field. Derivative quantities describing the sound field. Impedance, instantaneous and average intensity over time, energy and power. Conservative and dissipative fields. Propagation of the acoustic wave in the medium with starts and in dispersion media.


6. Radiation of acoustic sources and propagation of waves in open space. Types and classification of sound sources. Directionality and directional characteristics. Elemental sound sources. Rayleigh integral formula and Fraunhofer diffraction pattern. Radiation of the vibrating piston in an infinite rigid bulkhead.


7. Fundamentals of signal theory. Fourier analysis of acoustic signals. Filters.


8. Wave propagation in restricted areas. Acoustic systems (Acoustic waveguides. Resonators. Acoustic filters. Diffusers.


9. Hearing and speech acoustics (hearing physiology, hearing psychology, speech perception, speech understanding).


10. Basics of sound landscape analysis method.

 W1, W2, W3 Lectures
2.

1. Sound pressure, sound intensity


Basic quantities defining the acoustic parameters (sound pressure, sound pressure level, sound intensity, sound power, sound power level).


2. Plane wave


Parameters describing the plane wave - length, frequency, amplitude. Euler equation, kinematic energy and potential plane wave.


3. Spherical wave


Pressure, velocity and intensity of the spherical wave, impedance in the near field, propagation of the spherical wave in unlimited space.


4. Wave superposition


Adding coherent waves - interference, rumbling. Calculations for incoherent sound sources.


5. Sound sources


Interference of plane and spherical waves in unlimited space, monopoles, dipoles, systems of several coherent sources.


6. Standing wave


Sound pressure and speed, sound pressure for standing waves, boundary conditions, multidimensional systems.


7. Helmholtz resonator


Mechanoacoustic analogies of the Helmholtz resonator, the impact of motion resistance on system parameters.


8. Statistical theory of the sound field


Acoustic impedance, sound reflection coefficient, sound absorption coefficient, medium freedom path.


9. Reverberation time


Rise and loss of acoustic energy in a room, reverberation time, sound pressure level in a closed room.


10. Wave phenomena


Diffraction, refraction, refraction.

 W1, W2, W3, U1, U2, K1 Auditorium classes
3.

1. Introduction. Introduction to acoustic laboratories.


2. Measurement of sound pressure and sound intensity. Acoustic field identification - anechoic and reverberant field. Wave interference.


3. Sum of sound sources, dependence of sound pressure level (intensity) on distance.


4. Determination of an equivalent sound level and exposure level based on the measurement of the sound pressure level


5. Study of the phenomenon of acoustic resonance.


6. Measurement of sound speed in different mediums.


7. Determination of directivity characteristics of sound sources.

 W1, W2, W3, U1, U2, K1 Laboratory classes

Extended information/Additional elements

Teaching methods and techniques :

Lectures

Activities Methods of verification Credit conditions
Lectures Activity during classes, Test, Examination Passing the tests.
Audit. classes Activity during classes, Execution of exercises, Test Completing two tests covering material from classes, active participation in classes.
Lab. classes Activity during classes, Execution of laboratory classes, Test Positive results from tests, passing grades on the reports on conducted experiments.

Conditions and the manner of completing each form of classes, including the rules of making retakes, as well as the conditions for admission to the exam

Exam:

Completing the lecture, positive evaluation of exercises, positive evaluation of the laboratory.

Lecture:

Passing tests.

Exercises:

Completing two tests covering material from classes, active participation in classes. In the event of significant backlogs in the assimilation of material from classes by students, the teacher allows the possibility of conducting additional colloquia, the completion of which will be necessary to obtain a positive final grade in the tutorials.

Laboratories:

Positive results from tests, passing grades from the reports on conducted experiments. The final grade is the average of the grades received during the semester. Untimely filling the backlogs will result in lowering the grade.

Method of determining the final grade

The final grade is a weighted average of the grades for the exam (60% participation in the final grade), passing the exercises (25%) and passing the laboratories (15%), all grades must be positive.

Manner and mode of making up for the backlog caused by a student justified absence from classes

Exercises:

A student absent from classes is required to supplement deficiencies arising as a result of absence, and to perform calculation tasks in a given scope of material indicated by the teacher.

Laboratory:

Absence from laboratory classes must be made up in writing in the form of a report or instructions on the topic of the exercise specified by the teacher.

Prerequisites and additional requirements

The student must have knowledge of mathematics and basic physical phenomena. Computer skills are also recommended.

Rules of participation in given classes, indicating whether student presence at the lecture is obligatory

Lecture:

Students participate in classes learning the next teaching content in accordance with the subject syllabus. Students should keep asking questions and clarifying doubts. Audiovisual registration of the lecture requires the teacher's consent.

Exercises:

Students are required to prepare themselves for the classes in the scope indicated each time by the teacher (e.g. in the form of sets of tasks). Assessment of the student's work may be based on oral or written statements in the form of a test, which, in accordance with the AGH UST study regulations, translates into the final grade in this form of classes.

Laboratory exercises:

Students perform laboratory exercises in accordance with the materials made available by the teacher. The student is required to prepare for the subject of the exercise, which can be verified oral or written test. Completion of classes is based on the presentation of a solution to the problem. Completion of the module is possible after passing all laboratory classes.

Literature

Obligatory
  1. Dobrucki A., Podstawy akustyki, Wydawnictwo Politechniki Wrocławskiej, 1987
  2. Engel Z., Panuszka R., Podstawy akustyki, Wydawnictwo AGH, 1989
  3. Everest F. A., Podręcznik akustyki, Wydawnictwo SONIA DRAGA
  4. Makarewicz R., Dźwięki i fale, Wydawnictwo Naukowe UAM, 2017
  5. Malecki I., Teoria fal i układów akustycznych, PWN
  6. Kwiek M., Akustyka laboratoryjna cz. I Podstawy akustyki teoretycznej, PWN
  7. Moore B.C.J., Wprowadzenie do psychologii słyszenia, PWN 1999
Optional
  1. Kuttruff H., Acoustics: An Introduction, Taylor & Francis, 2007
  2. Rossing T. D., Springer Handbook of Acoustics, Science+Business Media, Inc., 2007
  3. Beranek L., Mellow T., Acoustics sound fields and transducers, Elsevier
  4. Mechel F.P., Formulas of Acoustics 2nd edition, Springer
  5. Rossing T.D., Fletcher N.H., Principles of vibration and sound 2nd edition, Springer

Scientific research and publications

Publications
  1. Acoustics of Orthodox churches in Poland / Paweł MAŁECKI, Jerzy WICIAK, Damian Nowak // Archives of Acoustics ; ISSN 0137-5075. — 2017 vol. 42 no. 4, s. 579–590. — Bibliogr. s. 589–590. — Publikacja dostępna online od: 2017-12-29. — tekst: https://goo.gl/gqzWJg
  2. Active vibration control of rectangular plate with distributed piezoelements excited acoustically and mechanically / M. KOZUPA, J. WICIAK // Acta Physica Polonica. A ; ISSN 0587-4246. — 2010 vol. 118 no. 1, s. 95–98. — Bibliogr. s. 98. — tekst: http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/viewarticle?data=dGJyMPPp44rp2%2fdV0%2bnjisfk5Ie46bRRtq6vTq6k63nn5Kx95uXxjL6prUqzpbBIr6qeT7ipsFKyr55Zy5zyit%2fk8Xnh6ueH7N%2fiVaunsUixra9ItaqvPurX7H%2b75uo%2b4ti7ebfepIzf3btZzJzfhrursE22rrBPrpzkh%2fDj34y75uJ%2bxOvqhNLb9owA&hid=4114
  3. Passive structural acoustic control of the smart plate – FEM simulation / M. S. Kozień, J. WICIAK // Acta Physica Polonica. A ; ISSN 0587-4246. — 2010 vol. 118 no. 6, s. 1186–1188. — Bibliogr. s. 1188. — tekst: http://przyrbwn.icm.edu.pl/APP/PDF/118/a118z6p25.pdf
  4. Sound pressure level analysis of commercials and regular programs / P. MAŁECKI, J. WICIAK // Acta Physica Polonica. A ; ISSN 0587-4246. — 2010 vol. 118 no. 1, s. 118–122. — Bibliogr. s. 121–122. — tekst: http://przyrbwn.icm.edu.pl/APP/PDF/118/a118z1p28.pdf