Product Description

AN AUTHORITATIIVE, UP–TO–DATE INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ACOUSTICS

Easy to read and understand, Fundamentals of Physical Acoustics fills a long–standing need for an acoustics text that challenges but does not overpower graduate students in engineering and physics. Mathematical results and physical explanations go hand in hand, and a unique feature of the book is the balance it strikes between time–domain and frequency–domain presentations.

Fundamentals of Physical Acoustics is intended for a two–semester, first–year graduate course, but is also suitable for advanced undergraduates. Emphasis on plane waves in the first part of the book keeps the mathematics simple yet accommodates a broad range of topics: propagation, reflection and transmission, normal modes and simple waveguides for rectilinear geometries, horns, inhomogeneous media, and sound absorption and dispersion.

The second part of the book is devoted to a more rigorous development of the wave equation, spherical and cylindrical waves (including the more advanced mathematics required), advanced waveguides, baffled piston radiation, diffraction (treated in the time domain), and arrays. Applications and examples are drawn from:
∗ Atmospheric acoustics
∗ Noise control
∗ Underwater acoustics
∗ Engineering acoustics
∗ Acoustical measurements


Supplemented with more than 300 graphs and figures as well as copious end–of–chapter problems, Fundamentals of Physical Acoustics is also an excellent professional reference for engineers and scientists.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #665440 in Books
• Published on: 2000-07-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 560 pages

Review
"This book is an excellent piece of work. The text is extremely clear and goes a long way towards meeting the declared pedagogical target. The author has written a comprehensive text. The proportions of the equations and explanations/interpretations are particularly well balanced. Throughout the book, the context and the validity domain for any equation derived are clearly stated. No doubt this book will be of invaluable help for students, academics, and engineers." (Applied Acoustics, March 2002)

Synopsis
Blackstock (mechanical engineering, U. of Texas) presents an introductory textbook on the physics of sound written for a two-semester graduate-level course. For part of the book, he attempts to keep the mathematics at a fairly basic level, while covering such topics as propagation, reflection and transmission, normal modes and simple waveguides for

From the Back Cover

AN AUTHORITATIIVE, UP–TO–DATE INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL ACOUSTICS

Easy to read and understand, Fundamentals of Physical Acoustics fills a long–standing need for an acoustics text that challenges but does not overpower graduate students in engineering and physics. Mathematical results and physical explanations go hand in hand, and a unique feature of the book is the balance it strikes between time–domain and frequency–domain presentations.

Fundamentals of Physical Acoustics is intended for a two–semester, first–year graduate course, but is also suitable for advanced undergraduates. Emphasis on plane waves in the first part of the book keeps the mathematics simple yet accommodates a broad range of topics: propagation, reflection and transmission, normal modes and simple waveguides for rectilinear geometries, horns, inhomogeneous media, and sound absorption and dispersion.

The second part of the book is devoted to a more rigorous development of the wave equation, spherical and cylindrical waves (including the more advanced mathematics required), advanced waveguides, baffled piston radiation, diffraction (treated in the time domain), and arrays. Applications and examples are drawn from:

• Atmospheric acoustics
• Noise control
• Underwater acoustics
• Engineering acoustics
• Acoustical measurements

Supplemented with more than 300 graphs and figures as well as copious end–of–chapter problems, Fundamentals of Physical Acoustics is also an excellent professional reference for engineers and scientists.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful Book
I think this is one of the best books on Physical Acoustics.
I would recommend this book to anyone starting to learn acoustics. This statement does not mean that advanced students should not go for this book, as it also covers advanced materials.

My opinion about the book can resumed as follows:

- Clear and concise
- Relatively easy to follow / Very good for self-studying.
- Very good presentation
- There is a derivation (or instructions on how to get) to almost every equation in the book.
- Not too theoretical. Many practical interpretations of the mathematical results are given. (percentage of mathematics well balanced)
- The author makes apparently difficult material simple!

From this book one can jump to more advanced texts (Theoretical Acoustics by Morse and Ingard and Acoustics - An Introduction to its Physical Principles and Applications by Pierce).

Fundamentals of Acoustics by Kinsler et al is also a good book for a beginner, but I think this one is much better.

Moral of the story, I really like this book!

Ps: This is an opinion of a beginner on Physical Acoustics more interested in air applications, that never had lessons about this topic. I don't know if my opinion will change as my knowledge on this field increases. I doubt it!