English for Specific Purposes

Electronic Engineering 77

 

WRITING: Why Deal with Acoustics?

 

16. Write an essay on the importance of acoustics as a discipline, its main applications and its theoretical and practical ^… significance for science and daily life. While doing this you may mention the following points:

- noise control engineering;

- sound absorption;

- soundproofing solutions;

- signal processing;

- medical applications;

- military use, etc.

 

In your essay use the following words and word-combinations: audible, to reduce, to increase, soundproofing, noise, to utilize, infrasonic, ultrasonic, to absorb, environment, surface, to emit, scale, to reflect, space, to detect, range.

 

SPECIALIST READING B: Acoustic Devices

 

17. Skim the four texts about acoustic devices and decide which sphere of acoustics they refer to: A) Environmental acoustics;

 

B) Architectural acoustics; C) Virtual acoustics;

D) Hydroacoustics.

Mind that 2 of the devices go to one of the spheres. So there is one extra sphere that no device goes to.

 

18. Read the four texts again. For Questions 1 – 12, choose from the devices A – D.

 

N	(In/By) Which device(s)…	Device
	…can be utilized to detect noise from animals?
	...the outer and inner transducers are not completely in phase with each other?
	…has/have panels which are not good at absorbing sound of low frequencies?
	…subwoofers are applied to amplify low frequency sounds?
	…is/are a good tool to test a microphone?
	…an acoustic signal is emitted into the water?
	…acoustic energy is dissipated and absorbed?
	…is necessary at an outdoor live performance?
	…a special cable named after a dangerous animal is used?
	…comprises two devices one of which does not produce signals?
	…is used to protect law and order?
	…has set a record?

 

 

A. Anechoic chamber

 

An anechoic chamber is a room with special walls that absorb as much sound as possible. Anechoic means "without echoes". Sometimes the entire room even rests on shock absorbers, negating any vibration from the rest of the building or the outside. The material covering the walls of an anechoic chamber uses wedge-shaped panels to dissipate as much audio energy as

 

 

B. Sonar

 

Sonar (Sound Navigation And Ranging) is a technique that uses sound propagation (usually underwater) to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels. Sonar may be used as a means of acoustic location and of measurement of the echo characteristics of "targets" in the water and in air for robot navigation. The acoustic frequencies used in sonar systems vary