Acoustics

       //**Concepts**//

**- Speed:** is the distance travelled in unit time (m/s). **- Frequency:** is the number of complete waves in one second, messured in Hertz (Hz), also called pitch. **- Wavelength:** is the distance between matching points on the wave (m). **- Longitudinal:** is the vibration parallel to direction of travel. **-** **Transverse:** is the vibration at right angle to direction of travel.

//**How sound is created?**//

Physics explains that sound is caused by vibration. When something vibrates (moves back and forth), it disturbs the molecules in the surrounding air. The disturbance moves outward in waves from whatever caused it. Our ear perceives this as sound.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; vertical-align: baseline;">//**Reverberance concept**//

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 21px;">Reverberation is the decay of sound after a note has stopped being played. It is most noticeable in a large space with hard surfaces, such as a cathedral where the sound echoes around long after a note has finished. In small spaces with plenty of soft materials, such as a bedroom, the sound is quickly absorbed by the soft furnishings, and dies away rapidly.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; vertical-align: baseline;">//**What are room acoustics?**//

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 21px;">Room acoustics are about the way in which sound behaves in a room. Sound transmission, sound absorption, sound reflection and sound diffusion are all aspects that are important here. Room acoustics also include how we as humans perceive different acoustic phenomena.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; vertical-align: baseline;">//**Room Acoustic Comfort - a natural part of the indoor environment**//

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 21px;">A room and its acoustic quality should be a support for people and the activities in which they are involved. To create the correct acoustic conditions is to create Room Acoustic Comfort. It is an important element of the sound environment concept and this, along with light, air and perception of the room, is in turn a natural component of the total indoor environment.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; vertical-align: baseline;">//**What do you as an architect need to consider regarding Room Acoustic Comfort?**//

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 21px;">In many environments where people are present and communicate, high sound levels are perceived as one of the most disturbing factors. Room Acoustic Comfort means that, when performing an evaluation of room acoustics, it is important to take into account different types of rooms and what people do there. Give priority to the different acoustic properties such as reverberance, speech clarity and sound level, depending on what the room is used for.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; vertical-align: baseline;">//**What must you as an architect do to achieve Room Acoustic Comfort?**//

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 21px;">A sound-absorbing ceiling is a practical aid for achieving Room Acoustic Comfort. The sound-absorbing ceiling will interact with the sound-dispersing (scattering) furnishings in the room. The sound level that is constantly generated in the room will, on the other hand, be effectively dealt with by the ceiling and be less dependent on sound-dispersing (scattering) objects. Suspended ceilings have a positive effect on speech clarity by reducing the reverberance in the room. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">