What is acoustics?
Acoustics is the study of sound. The word acoustics comes from the Greek and deals with how sound is created, how it propagates and how it affects us humans.
All sound is created by tiny vibrations which then become sound waves. The sound waves create a pressure difference in our ears and allow humans to perceive different sounds. It is also these waves that cause sound to propagate in a room.
In short, the following factors influence the perception of sound in a room:
- sound propagation and attenuation, which is determined by the design of the premises,
- choice of materials(sound absorption) and
- frame (construction and soundproofing of walls, floors and ceilings).
What is good and bad acoustics?
In schools and workplaces, good acoustics are important. This is when the sound level is comfortable. More specifically, this means that the sound is not too loud and that there is no reverberation (echo).
Poor acoustics means the opposite, i.e. a high noise level with a lot of reverberation.
Why is acoustics so important?
There are many good reasons why it is so important to try to achieve good acoustics in both workplaces and schools. For example, poor acoustics can lead to serious health risks in the form of:
- Reduced ability to concentrate
- Increased fatigue
- Constant headaches
- Increased stress
- Elevated blood pressure
Good acoustics help to reduce risks.
How to improve your indoor sound environment
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to improve your indoor sound environment. The most common is to install wall-mounted sound absorbers or put up sound-absorbing screens.
