ANGELES UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

ANGELES CITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

RESEARCH NO. 1

HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS

SUBMITTED BY:
SYDNEY F. YAMBAO
A R C H I T E C
T U R E - I I I

INSTRUCTOR:
AR. MARY GRACE B. BARRAMEDA, UAP

DATE OF SUBMISSION
FEBRUARY 18, 2022
 BUILDING UTILITIES (BUTIL3) February 18, 2022

- ACOUSTICS AND LIGHTING

SYSTEMS

Research No. 1:
History of Acoustics
SYDNEY YAMBAO

Architecture III
 DEFINITION AND ETYMOLOGY

Presentation
Topics
HISTORY OF ACOUSTICS

FUNCTION OF ACOUSTICS IN
ARCHITECTURE
Acoustics
Definition

Acoustics is the branch of physics

concerned with the study of sound
(mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and
solids).

Acoustics is defined as the science that

deals with the production, control,
transmission, reception, and effects of
sound (as defined by Merriam-Webster).
Acoustics
Definition

While acoustics does include the study of

musical instruments and architectural
spaces, it also covers a vast range of
topics, including:
a. noise control
b. SONAR for submarine navigation
c. ultrasounds for medical imaging
d. thermoacoustic refrigeration
e. seismology,
f. bioacoustics
Lindsay's Wheel of Acoustics, which shows
g. electroacoustic communication. fields within acoustics
Acoustics
Etymology

The word "acoustic" is derived from the

Greek word ἀκουστικός (akoustikos).

Means "of or for hearing, ready to hear"

and that from ἀκουστός (akoustos),
"heard, audible", which in turn derives from
the verb ἀκούω(akouo), "I hear".

c. 1600, "pertaining to hearing or sound,"

from French acoustique, from Latinized
form of Greek akoustikos
500 BC 350 BC 20 BC

Greek philosopher Greek Philosopher, Aristotle, Roman architect and

Pythagoras investigates the introduced the concept of
properties of vibrating compressions and
strings that produce pleasing rarefactions of air. These
musical intervals factors are present in sound
and fall upon and strikes the
air next to it, closely
resembling the behavior of
wave motion.
engineer Vitruvius wrote a
treatise on the acoustic
properties of theaters. This
treatise was heavily used in
ancient buildings, which
started the architectural
acoustics.
1636
Galileo Galilei, and Marin
Mersenne made the entirety of
the Laws of Vibrating Strings.
Their works made a significant
impact in the field of acoustics,
and it was when the successful
measurement of the speed of
sound was made.
1681 1696
Robert Hooke, an English French physicist and
physicist, is the first to mathematician Joseph Sauveur
produce a sound wave of coins the term acoustique
known frequency, using a (acoustics, in English) for the
rotating cog wheel as a “science of sound”.
measuring device
1877 1877 1924

The first device to record
and play back sounds, the
phonograph, is developed
by American inventor
Thomas Alva Edison.
The English physical scientist
John William Strutt, 3rd Baron
Rayleigh, publishes his two-
volume treatise The Theory
of Sound. This publication
marks the beginning of
modern acoustics.
The Bell system renames the
Transmission Unit (TU) into the
decibel (dB). The decibel was
named after the Bel, in honor of
the telecommunications pioneer
Alexander Graham Bell.
1930 1936 1960

The “International Stanley Smith Stevens, American physicist Wallace

Electrotechnical professor at Harvard Sabine, considered to be the
Commission” replaces University, proposes unit for originator of modern
“cycle per second” with perceived loudness called architectural acoustics, and the
American physicist Georg von
“Hertz” as the SI unit of Sones.
Békésy, who validated the theory
measure for frequency, in
of hearing first suggested by
honor of Heinrich Hertz. Helmholtz.

Békésy’s book, Experiments in

Hearing, is the magnum opus of
the modern theory of the ear.
We are seldom aware of how much we can
hear. We receive a total impression of the
thing we are looking at and give no
thought to the various senses that have
contributed to that impression.
Steen Eiler Rasmussen
Acoustics in
Architecture
Functions
Architectural acoustics are essential in
ensuring sounds are transmitted clearly
and effectively. They matter when it
comes to keeping things quiet in places
like libraries or museums, or in making
sure loud noises aren’t too loud, in
places like casinos.
When it comes to architecture, acoustic
considerations should be made at the
beginning stages of a design. Sound is
projected around the rooms we live, work
and dwell in, and can provide benefits to it.
If wrong, they can also completely ruin a
building.
A well-designed building with the proper
acoustics can influence a person’s mental
health and overall sense of well-being for
the better.
As suggested, good acoustic design can
serve multiple purposes, including the
following:
Acoustics in Properly designed acoustics aid in the
clear transmission of verbal

Architecture
communication while at the same time
reducing unwanted noise, thereby
reducing distraction and aiding in
concentration.
Functions Decreasing stress and anxiety levels
To control how soundwaves reverberate Preserving hearing
off its interior in such a way as to Aiding in concentration
maximize clarity, amplifying sound in Reducing or minimizing hypertension
areas where it’s appropriate to do so, and Improving speech communication
reducing noise levels where doing so is Maximizing the enjoyment of musical
beneficial. performances
The elimination of loud noises, moreover, Amplification of sound depending on the
can contribute to the preservation of environment.
hearing over time.
Resource 01 https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/acoustics.htm

Page 02 https://exploresound.org/what-is-new/

03 https://acoustics.byu.edu/what-is

04 https://www.etymonline.com/word/acoustic

05 https://sound2020.org/acoustics/history/

https://didyouknowscience.com/history-of-
06
acoustics/
Resource
https://www.britannica.com/science/acoustics/Rever
07
beration-time

Page 08
https://www.archdaily.com/969783/solutions-to-
improve-acoustics-in-your-home

https://sound-zero.com/why-architectural-
09
acoustics-are-crucial/

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-interior-
10
acoustics-architect-designer-praveen-mishra/

https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/architectural-
11
acoustics

https://community.sw.siemens.com/s/article/history-
12
of-acoustics?