PhysicsLabReport:MathematicsofMusic

Kanwara
Boondaree
Natnapin
Sitanan

Boonchai(Praewa)
Daophiphatchai
(Pleng)
Ketchaikosol
(Pin)
Teeracharoenchai (Ploy)

Chayata

Thammarat(Faye)

Panassaya

Waenkaew

(Pin)

113
113
113
113
113
113

Objectives
Determinethefrequenciesofthenotesofamusicalscale.
Examinethedifferencesandratiobetweenthesenotes.
Determinesmathematicalpatternsinconsonantanddissonantcombinationsofnotes.

Materials
LoggerPro
VernierComputerInterface
VernierMicrophone
2Computers
ElectronicKeyboard(virtualpiano.net)

Procedure
1. ConnecttheVenierMicroscopetoChannel1oftheinterface
2. Open the file 35 Mathemetics of Music in the Physics with Venier folder. The
computer will display a graph for displaying the waveform of the sound an FFT(Fast

3.
4.

5.

6.

Faurier Transform). An FFT is a methametical, ethod that gives you the frequencies
presentinthesoundthatyouanalyze
Openthewebsite:virtuapiano.nettoaccessanonlineelectronickeyboard
Produce the first note tostudy,C.Use the middle C on the keyboard (firstkey of the
third octave fromlefttoright).HoldtheMicroscopeclosetothesoundsourceandclick
collect. Hold the tonesteady for asecond or two (untilthewaveformappearsonthe
screen). If you do not see a simple, welldefined wave pttern on the screen, try
adjustingtheMicroscopepositionandtryagain.
Check the FFT to see the frequency spectrum of the wave . The graph shows the
relatives amplitude of the frequencies present in the sound. Since we met are using
fairly simple sounds for this lab, you will probably see only one or two peaks on this
graph. The lowest frequency present is called the fundermental frequency, and it is
also displayed at the top left of the FFT. Record this value in the data table. The
fundermentalfrequencyforthefirstCofthethirdoctaveisapproximately262Hz.
Repeat steps 3and4 for each of the notes listed in thedata table (one octave). Use
thediagramasareferencepointtolocatethedifferentnotesonakeyboard.

Result
DataTable
Note

Fundamental
Frequency(Hz)

RatiotofirstC
(f/fc)

IntegerRatio

Dissonantor
Consonant

261Hz

1/1

296Hz

1.134

9/8

Dissonant

331Hz

1.268

5/4

Consonant

351Hz

1.344

4/3

Consonant

391Hz

1.498

3/2

Consonant

439Hz

1.681

5/3

Consonant

493Hz

1.888

15/8

Dissonant

523Hz

2.022

2/1

Consonant

Analysis
1. For each frequency, calculate its ratio to the frequency of the first C note (Ratio = f
note/fc).Recordyourresultinthedatetable.
(Answerisonthedatatable)

2. The ratios of the notescan be expressed with ratio pf integers.Below,youhavealist

of integer ratios. Identify which of them correspond to the ratios that you calculated.
Writethedownonthetable[Example:ratio=1.33ratio=4/3]
Integerratios:3/24/35/46/55/38/57/47/59/815/816/15
ratio=1.5ratio=3/2
ratio=1.6ratio=8/5
ratio=1.33ratio=4/3
ratio=1.75ratio=7/4
ratio=1.25ratio=5/4
ratio=1.4ratio=7/5
ratio=1.2ratio=6/5
ratio=1.13ratio=9/8
ratio=1.66ratio=5/3
ratio=1.88ratio=15/8
ratio=1.06ratio=16/15

3. Play the C note in yourkeyboardtogetherwitheachoftheconsequtivenotes.Writein

thetablewhetherthesoundisconsonaantordissonant.
(Answerisonthedatatable)

4. Considering all the combinations of notes, is there a pattern that helps predict what
combinationwillbeconsonant?Explain,citingspecificevidencefromyourtable.
Those with the small integer ratio will be consonant due to theirsimilarity.Themoreit
different, the more likely itll become dissonant. For example, only note Bs ratio that
has a big difference between each two,otherthan thisnoteallotherswithsimilarratio
areconsonant.

5. Draw a graph (Pressure vs. Time) of thefundamental mode of the CandGnotes(on

the same graph). You can use a graphing soflware or you can draw it by your hand.
What do you notice about the two sound waves? Isthereapatternororderthatcould
explainthefactthatthetwonotessoundgoodtogether?

We notice that atsomepointswavesGandwavesCarematcheduptogetherinform

of pattern. In the graph, we can see that every third waveofGmatchesupwithevery
second wave of C, which means that frequencies match up atregularintervals.Since
there is a pattern in this graph and integer ratio is small, the two notes become
consonant,soundgoodtogether.

Conclusion
The experiment shows that two notes that have very different frequency or large
integer ratio will create dissonance sound while the notes that have small integer ratio will
create consonantsound.Furthermore,wealsocan concludethattheconsonantnotesappear
to be in pattern if we plot those notes on the pressure vs. time graphsincethere are some
points that thefrequenciesofthosenotesarematched.Hence,thisexperimentcanhelpusto
differentiate the consonant and dissonant sound, which can make it easier for composers to
compose music since consonance notes produce nice sound and dissonant notes produce
irritate sound. Therefore, composers will probably avoid those dissonant notes so that those
noteswillnotruinthemusicthattheycompose.
There were some errors which could have affected the experiment for instance, the
surrounding sound might disturb the microphone while we were recording, which will affect
the frequencyofthesoundandcausethesoundtobealtered.Therefore,wecan improvethis
experiment by making surethattheroomwetaketheexperimentissilence.Besides,wealso
can be more caution whilewe calculate the ratios so that the outcome willbeasaccurateas
possible.