SUMS: Worthington -- The Sound of Science: Describing Sounds Using Mathematics

This week’s SUMS talk is by Joachim Worthington. Pizza and drinks will be available 
afterwards. 

Abstract: 

In this talk, we’ll learn how to use maths to describe the basics of sound. Why are sine 
waves like prime numbers for sound? How can Chebyshev Polynomials make instruments 
"sweeter"? What’s wrong with a 12-tone scale? And why do Bessel Functions sound like a 
bell? This talk will attempt to answer these questions, while introducing some of the 
basic principles of synthesis. Some surprising links between simple sounds and complex 
mathematics will be demonstrated.