Brian Tinker with William Fickinger (project started January 2006)

History of Acoustics Research in the Physics Department

The Case Physics Department has a rich history of research in acoustics, which peaked during the early 20th century. In particular, the department head, Dayton Miller, invented the phonodeik, the predecessor to modern oscilloscopes, which could photographically record sound waves. The department still has much of the original equipment purchased by Miller, including pieces designed by German acoustician Karl Rudolf König. This project will explore the history of acoustics research in the department. Key pieces of equipment will be identified and detailed, and a website will be created presenting this information.