Are you preparing for an acoustics qualifying exam? The more of these terms you can define/derive, the better you will do.
Talk Like an Acoustician
Compiled from Understanding Acoustics: An Experimentalist's View of Sound and Vibration, 2nd Ed. by Stephen L. Garrett
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Comfort for the Computationally Crippled
- Taylor Series Expansion
- Second-order correction
- Power series
- Product Rule
- Differential
- The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
- Integration by parts
- Logarithmic differentiation
- Stable equilibrium
- Potential energy
- Neutral equilibrium
- Unstable equilibrium
- Linear relationship
- Hooke's Law
- Isochronism
- Harmonic Generation
- The Principle of Superposition
- Orthogonal functions
- Forier synthesis
- Kronecker's delta
- Euler's identity
- Complex exponentials
- Argand plane
- Phasor notation
- Rationalization
- Complex conjugate
- Dimensional homogeneity
- SI System of Units
- Similitude
- Π-groups
- Dimensionless groups
- Random errors
- Systematic (bias) errors
- Statistical fluctuations
- Relative uncertainty
- Precision
- Standard deviation
- Ergodic hypothesis
- Residual
- End-to-end calibration
- Correlated or uncorrelated errors
- Covariance
- Least-squares fit
- Correlation coefficient
- Confounding variables
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The Simple Harmonic Oscillator
- Point-mass
- Dynamical equation
- Equation of state
- Frequency
- Period
- Angular frequency
- Radian frequency
- Quasi-static approximation
- Virial theorem
- Rayleigh's method
- Adiabatic invariance
- Dashpot
- Mechanical resistance
- Quality factor
- Logarithmic decrement
- Natural frequency
- Mechanical reactance
- Resistance-controlled regime
- Stiffness-controlled regime
- Mass-controlled regime
- Rayleigh line shape
- Lenz's law
- Faraday's law of induction
- Decibel
- Phase-locked loop
- Ring down
- Reversible transducer
- Vibration isolator
- Transmissibility
- Seismometer
- Geophone
- Normal modes
- Free-decay frequency
- Underdamped
- Overdamped
- Critical damping
- Equipartition Theorem
- Half-power bandwidth
- Full width at half maximum
- Equivalent noise bandwidth
- Effective bandwidth
- Mechanical impedance
- Resonance
- Normal mode frequencies
- Symmetric mode
- Antisymmetric mode
- Characteristic equation
- Secular equation
- Normal coordinates
- Basis function
- Level repulsion
- Beating
- Nearest-neighbor interaction
- Celerity
-
String Theory
- Wave equation
- d'Alembertian operator
- Transverse wave speed
- Traveling wave
- Fixed boundary
- Free boundary
- Method of images
- Wavenumber
- Fundamental frequency
- Overtones
- Harmonic series
- Standing waves
- Nodes
- Anti-nodes
- Consonance and dissonance
- Interval
- Equal temperament
- Scale of just intonation
- Pythagorean scale
- Chromatic scale
- Stability coefficient
- Inertia coefficient
- Transcendental equation
- Nonreflecting termination
- Input mechanical impedance
- Radiation resistance
- Characteristic impedance
- Resonance
- Impedance transformer
-
Elasticity of Solids
- Strain
- Stress
- Young's modulus
- Poisson's ratio
- Bulk modulus
- Volumetric strain
- Modulus of unilateral compression
- Dilational modulus
- Shear modulus
- Auxetic materials
- Accelerometer
- Test mass
- Seismic mass
- Proof mass
- Ferroelectric ceramic
- Tonpilz transducers
- Reduced mass
- Radiation mass
- Neutral plane
- Bending moment
- Radius of gyration
- Slenderness ratio
- Eeuler force
- Single relaxation time model
- Linear response theory
- Kramers-Kronig relations
- Generalized susceptibility
- Relaxation time
- Maxwell model
- Standard linear viscoelasticity model
- Dynamic modulus
- Storae modulus
- Loss modulus
- Loss factor or damping factor
- Shape factor
- Stiffness factor
- Stiffness matrix
- Voigt notation
-
Modes of Bars
- Flexural rigidity
- Polar moment of inertia
- Torsional rigidity
- Phase Speed
- Dispersion
- Pure tone
- Separation of Variables
- Dynamic range
- Electromagnetic cross talk
- Quadrature output
- Reduced frequency
- Master curve
- Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy
- Speaking length (for piano strings)
-
Membranes, Plates, and Microphones
- Laplacian operator
- Helmholtz equation
- Separation condition
- Degenerate modes
- Mode splitting
- Modal density
- Periodic boundary condition
- Bessel function
- Neumann functions
- k-space
- Gas stiffness
- Polytropic coefficient
- Inhomogenous differential equation
- Particular solution
- Condenser microphone
- Permittivity of free space
- Polarizing voltage
- Electrostatic potential energy
- Paschen's law
- Open-circuit microphone sensitivity
- Reciprocal space
- Compactness criterion
- Volume velocity
- Electret microphone
- Vibrating reed electrometer
- Modified Bessel functions
-
Ideal Gas Laws
- Ideal Gas Law
- Kinetic theory of gases
- Inert gas
- Point particles
- Equipartition theorem
- Quadratic degree of freedom
- Boltzmann's constant
- Avogadro's number
- Universal Gas Constant
- Extensive variables
- Intensice variables
- Pascal's law
- Isothermal equation of state
- Macroscopic variables
- Conservation laws
- Homogeneous fluid
- Entropy
- Adiabatic
- Second Law of Thermodynamics
- First Law of Thermodynamics
- Heat capacity at constant volume
- Isochoric heat capacity
- Heat capacity at constant pressure
- Isobaric heat capacity
- Adiabatic gas law
- Adiabatic equation of state
- Specific heat ratio
- Logarithmic differentiation
- Monoatomic (noble) gas
- Polyatomic molecules
- Planck's constant
- Boltzmann factor
- Planck distribution
- Conservation of mass
- Continuity equation
- Navier-Stokes equation
- Euler equation
- Shear viscosity
- Thermal conductivity
- Viscous stress tensor
-
Nondissipative Lumped Elements
- Lumped element
- Acoustical compliance
- Acoustical inertance
- Helmholtz resonator
- Harmonic analysis
- Isotropic fluid
- Mean value
- Instantaneous value
- Acoustic approximation
- Acoustic Mach number
- Forier's Theorem
- Laboratory frame of reference
- Eulerian coordinate system
- Fluid particle or fluid parcel
- Lagrangian description
- Eulerien volume
- Nonlinear effect
- Streaming
- Adiabatic sound speed
- Acoustical impedance
- Capacitive reactance
- Atmostpheric lapse rate
- Inductive reactance
- Acoustical network
- Joining conditions
- Bass-reflex loudspeaker enclosure
-
Dissipative Hydrodynamics
- Time reversal invariance
- Shear viscosity
- Forier Diffusion Equation
- Ohm's law
- Joule beating
- Newton's Law of Cooling
- Thermal diffusivity
- Thermometric conductivity
- Thermal penetration depth
- Skin depth
- Instantaneous value
- Acoustic approximation
- Ballistic propagation
- Newtonian fluids
- Diffusion constant
- Non-slip boundary condition
- Shear or dynamic or absolute viscosity
- Prandtl number
- Kinematic viscosity
- Poiseuille's formula
- Oscillatory plug flow
- Viscous penetration depth
- Entrance length
- Thermal velocity
- Mean free path
-
One-Dimensional Propagation
- Wave equation
- Dispersion relation
- Bulk modulus
- Adiabatic compressibility
- Specific acoustic impedance
- Characteristic impedance
- Acoustical impedance
- Mechanical impedance
- Rayl
- Acoustic intensity
- Reference intensity
- Reference sound pressure
- Coherent sound sources
- Linearized Continuity equation
- Homogenous
- Isotropic
- Conservation equation
- Equal-loudness contours
- Fletcher-Munson curves
- Sound level meter
- Crest factor
- Acoustic transfer impedance
- Principle of reciprocity
- Reciprocity calibration
- Level repulsion
- Wakeland number
- Acoustic admittance
- Amplitude reflection coefficient
- Amplitude transmission coefficient
- Power transmission coefficient
- Band-stop filter
- Low-pass filter
- High-pass filter
- Exponential horn
- Catenoidal horn
- Flare constant
- Cut-off frequency
-
Reflection, Transmission, and Refraction
- Cavitation effects
- Pressure reflection coefficient
- Pressure transmission coefficient
- Pressure release boundary
- Impedance matching layer
- Antireflective coating
- Trace wavelength
- Specific acoustic impedance
- Specular reflection
- Diffuse reflection
- Snell's law
- Fermat's principle
- Critical angle
- Total internal reflection
- Angle of intromission
- Refraction
- Piecewise-linear approximation
- Ray tracing
- Grazing angle
- Sound channel
- SOFAR channel
-
Radiation and Scattering
- Causality sphere
- Monopole
- Compact source
- Compactness criterion
- Rayleigh resolution criterion
- Acoustic transfer impedance
- Specific acoustic impedance
- Characteristic impedance
- Radiation reactance
- Radiation resistance
- Effective mass
- Hydrodynamic mass
- End correction
- Laplace's formula
- Source strength
- Far field
- Near field
- Bipole
- End-fire direction
- Directionality factor
- Baffled source
- Directivity
- Directivity index
- Dipole
- Dipole strength
- Pressure gradient microphone
- Ribbon microphone
- Cardioid directionality
- Semi-infinite half-space
- Minor lobe
- Solid angle
- Steradian
- Density contrast
- Compressibility contrast
- Differential scattering cross section
- Total scattering cross section
- Rayleigh scattering
- Mean field approximation
- Void fraction
- Array gain
- Beam steering
- End-fire array
- Shaded array
- End corrections
-
Attenuation of Sound
- Viscoelasticity
- Viscous drag
- Thermal relaxation
- Thermoviscous boundary layer
- Spatial attenuation coefficient
- Temporal attenuation coefficient
- Shear strain
- Hydrostatic strain
- Collision time
- Enthalpy function
- Legendre transformation
- Maxwell relations
- Relaxation time
- Mean free path
- Kinetic theory
- Einstein summation convention
- Bulk viscosity
- Second viscosity
- Le Châtelier's principle
- Nondimensional frequency
- Vibrational relaxation time
- Structural relaxation
- Association-dissociation reactions
- Kramers-Kronig relations