UIUC Physics 199POM
Physics of Music/Physics of Musical Instruments
Student Projects
Fall Semester 2006:

1. Josh Fisher measured the mechanical modes of vibrations (resonances/anti-resonances) as a function of frequence of his Fender Jazz Bass:

• Resonance: Vibration Occurring in the Body of Stringed Instruments (Final Oral Presentation, Adobe PDF)

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2. Greg Formosa analyzed the sonic differences of using different materials for trumpet mouthpieces:

• Analysis of Different Materials for Trumpet Mouthpieces (Final Oral Presentation, Adobe PDF)

• Tonal Analysis of Different Materials for Trumpet Mouthpieces (Final Written Report, Adobe PDF)

3. Kortney Fox Investigated the Physics of the Viola

• The Physics Behind the Viola (Final Oral Presentation, Adobe PDF)

• The Viola: How the Strings Affect the Tone (Final Written Report, Adobe PDF)

4. Robert Greathouse Analyzed the Sonic Effect(s) of Various Kinds of Trumpet Mutes:

• Different Models of Trumpet Mutes and Their Effects (Final Written Report, Adobe PDF)

5. Matt Klomparens Built and Tested a "Stack-In-A-Box" Electric Guitar Tube Preamp:

• My First Preamp: The Why's, How-To's and Where-For's of Intimidating Electronics (Final Oral Presentation, Adobe PDF)

• The Guitarist's Pursuit: DIY and the Bottom Line (Final Written Report, Adobe PDF)

6. Alex Prokup Analyzed and Compared the Sounds of Recorded Notes Played on a Stradivarius vs. a Nagyvary Violin, obtained from a CD Kindly Provided by Dr. Nagyvary:

• The Stradivarius Challenge (Final Oral Presentation, Adobe PDF)

• The Stradivarius Challenge (Final Written Report, Adobe PDF)

7. Jake Wilson Investigated the Relationship(s) between Music and Mathematics:

• Pythagoras and His Vibrating Strings: The Relationship(s) Between Music and Mathematics (Final Oral Presentation, Adobe PDF)

8. Tom Wilson Analysed The Sounds from Single-Coil Electric Guitar Pickups:

• Analysis of Sounds from Single-Coil Electric Guitar Pickups (Final Oral Presentation, Adobe PDF)

9. Sam Yeakel Investigated the History of the Recording of Sound:

• The History of Recording (Final Written Report, Adobe PDF)

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