Disc golf enthusiasts now have a unique opportunity to combine their love for the sport with an educational experience in acoustics. Kyle S. Dalton of Penn State University has developed an interactive lesson that explores the world of acoustics through the sounds emitted by flying discs during a game of disc golf. Dalton will be presenting his work at the prestigious Acoustics 2023 conference, which is being held from December 4-8 at the International Convention Centre Sydney.
The fascinating project arose from Dalton’s passion for disc golf and his desire to introduce students to the field of acoustics through engaging and accessible means. Traditionally, signal processing courses use example datasets derived from sources like aircraft, racecars, and fireworks displays to teach students about new processing techniques. However, these datasets may not be readily accessible to all students for further experimentation or data collection.
Dalton’s experiment involved setting up three microphones in a 25-foot line and connecting them to computer equipment that transformed each microphone’s signal into a data point. By affixing a small whistle to a disc and throwing it across the line of microphones, Dalton effectively captured the acoustical signals produced during the flight of the disc.
Listening intently to the disc as it sailed through the air allowed Dalton to gather valuable data regarding the disc’s flight dynamics, such as its speed and rate of spin. This detailed information is not typically available when using conventional measurement techniques like radar guns, which only provide velocity measurements.
The resulting dataset has proven to be an invaluable resource for teaching students key concepts in signal processing. Through the use of basic processing tools and data visualization techniques, students can explore topics such as the Doppler shift to determine velocity and gain crucial insights into the physical properties of flying discs.
One of the notable advantages of this interactive lesson is its accessibility. The experiment can be conducted in an open space, requiring only a basic setup and a skilled arm. This affordability and ease of implementation make it suitable for a wide range of educational settings and locations.
The Acoustics 2023 conference, jointly hosted by the Acoustical Society of America and the Australian Acoustical Society, serves as the perfect platform for Dalton to share his groundbreaking work. Bringing together experts from around the world, this collaborative event merges the Western Pacific Acoustics Conference with the Pacific Rim Underwater Acoustics Conference.
With the ever-increasing popularity of disc golf, Dalton’s unique approach to teaching acoustics promises to capture the attention of enthusiasts and educators alike. By incorporating real-world scenarios and tangible examples from a beloved sport, students will be able to explore an exciting intersection between physics, sports, and sound.
