Pythagorean vs. Equally Tempered Tuning is a paper discussing the differences, pros, and cons of the two systems of tuning musical instruments. Complete with 6 source bibliography.

Pythagorean vs. Equally Tempered Tuning is a paper discussing the differences, pros, and cons of the two systems of tuning musical instruments. Complete with 6 source bibliography. Pythagorean vs. Equally TemperedIn the western world of music, there is a commonly used system of tuning for an instrument, called equally tempered tuning. However, this was not always the system in use. Before equal tempered tuning, there was the Pythagoras scale, developed about 2,500 years ago by Pythagoras. Although Pythagoras' scale sounded very natural, it had a flaw. Over time, more complex instruments were created that could reach higher octaves, where the flaw became too obvious to ignore. While equal tempered tuning fixed the error, some qualities were also lost. To understand both of these systems and their differences, we must first have a basic understanding of sound.Sound is energy. When something creates sound vibrations, it makes molecules in the air vibrate (longitudinal waves), which then travel to the ear and vibrate the ear. These vibrations are then interpreted by the brain as sound. Different sounds have different shapes, velocities and pitches.English: Visual r epresentation of File:Pythagorean...The velocity of sound refers to the strength with which the sound is created. Pitch refers to the frequency or rate of vibration. If something is high pitched, it has a high frequency, meaning it vibrates the air at a higher rate, and a low pitch vibrates at a lower rate. Different sound interpreters have different frequency ranges. For example, humans can hear sounds ranging from 20Hz to 20kHz. However, dogs can hear sounds at 50 kHz or higher. This is why dog whistles cannot be heard by humans, but can by dogs; because their frequency is above our hearing range, but still within that of dogs.Discovered around 530 BCE, Pythagoras' Scale was a very natural sounding scale. It was first discovered, when Pythagoras realized that when you pluck two strings of a certain ratio to each other, it makes a...

Free Essays on Jane Austen Uses Of Irony In Pride And Prejudice

The first sentence of the novel Pride and Prejudice opens with an ironic statement about marriage, â€Å"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife† (1). A man with a fortune does not need a wife nearly so much as a woman is greatly in need of a wealthy husband. The entire novel is really an explanation of how women and men pursue each other prior to marriage. Jane Austen uses a variety of verbal, dramatic, situational and irony through the novel. The novel is full of verbal irony, especially coming from Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet. Verbal irony is saying one thing, but meaning the complete opposite. Although Mr. Bennet is basically a sensible man, he behaves strangely because of his sarcasm with his wife. Trapped in a bad marriage, he makes life endurable for himself by assuming a pose of an ironic passive spectator of life, who has long ago abandoned his roles as a husband and a father. He amuses himself by pestering his foolish wife or making insensitive remarks about his daughters. Mr. Bennet cruelly mocks his wife silliness and is shown to be sarcastic, and cynical with comments as â€Å"†¦you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party† (2). He laughs at her total obsession with finding suitable husbands for her five daughters. Elizabeth is to some extent similar to her father’s cynicism. At the second ball, not only did Elizabeth declined Darcy request to da nce with her, but mocked him with a comment like â€Å"Mr. Darcy is all politeness† (17). Another is â€Å"I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect† when Darcy and Elizabeth joust with one another in Chapter11 (39). Her speeches crackle with irony that is filled with pep and display vibrant humor. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the character doesn’t, which is seen through Elizabeth and Darcy. In chapter 4, ... Free Essays on Jane Austen Uses Of Irony In Pride And Prejudice Free Essays on Jane Austen Uses Of Irony In Pride And Prejudice The first sentence of the novel Pride and Prejudice opens with an ironic statement about marriage, â€Å"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife† (1). A man with a fortune does not need a wife nearly so much as a woman is greatly in need of a wealthy husband. The entire novel is really an explanation of how women and men pursue each other prior to marriage. Jane Austen uses a variety of verbal, dramatic, situational and irony through the novel. The novel is full of verbal irony, especially coming from Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet. Verbal irony is saying one thing, but meaning the complete opposite. Although Mr. Bennet is basically a sensible man, he behaves strangely because of his sarcasm with his wife. Trapped in a bad marriage, he makes life endurable for himself by assuming a pose of an ironic passive spectator of life, who has long ago abandoned his roles as a husband and a father. He amuses himself by pestering his foolish wife or making insensitive remarks about his daughters. Mr. Bennet cruelly mocks his wife silliness and is shown to be sarcastic, and cynical with comments as â€Å"†¦you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party† (2). He laughs at her total obsession with finding suitable husbands for her five daughters. Elizabeth is to some extent similar to her father’s cynicism. At the second ball, not only did Elizabeth declined Darcy request to da nce with her, but mocked him with a comment like â€Å"Mr. Darcy is all politeness† (17). Another is â€Å"I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect† when Darcy and Elizabeth joust with one another in Chapter11 (39). Her speeches crackle with irony that is filled with pep and display vibrant humor. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the character doesn’t, which is seen through Elizabeth and Darcy. In chapter 4, ...

Why the Scientific Revolution did not Take Place in Chinaâ€Or Did It

Why the Scientific Revolution did not Take Place in China–Or Did It Introduction During the 16th and 17th centuries, new ideas were invented in the fields of biology, astronomy, chemistry and physics. These inventions transformed ancient and medieval perception of nature into modern science in the period that was called the scientific revolution.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Why the Scientific Revolution did not Take Place in China–Or Did It? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Scientific revolution began in Europe towards the end of the renaissance period. According to Sivin (10), it was during this period that human beings began explaining natural happenings without consultation of the Christian doctrine. Discussion The history of science and technology in China contributed much to the advancement of the global knowledge in science and technology. Philosophers in China made advancements in various disciplines including astronomy, mathematics, science and technology. Her bal and traditional Chinese medicine played an important role in the society. One of the ideas invented by the Chinese includes the shadow clock. Kites and Kongming lanterns are among other flying machines that were invented in China. The use of the compass, papermaking and printing as well as gunpowder spread to Europe and other countries in the world from China (Sivin 13). There are many reasons put forward to explain the reason behind the failure of scientific revolution in China. One of the reasons is geographical position of the country. The climate of Britain favors agriculture because of its fertile soils and animal keeping especially in the western parts of the country. Incidences of drought and diseases were rare in Britain. Apart from providing meat, animals served industrial purposes in Britain such as pulling ploughs and transportation of goods, a factor that contributed to its development (Sivin 15).Advertising Looking for assessment on asian? Let's see if we ca n help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Ecological benefits of Britain contributed much towards its industrialization unlike China. For instance, mines that were near markets made it easy for transportation of minerals. The northern part of China had coalmines that made the place unsafe as people feared attacks that forced them to migrate to the southern parts hence preventing extraction of coal. The steam power discovered from coal in Britain provided transport facilities using powerful machinery contributing to industrial revolution. Coal was obtained from Britain at cheaper prices motivating the country to continue with innovations (Sivin 20). This was not the case for China. The population of China plays a significant role in explaining why scientific revolution did not take place in the country. During this period, the population of China was higher than that of Europe. Laborers were paid low wages in China than in Europe because so many people were in need of jobs. Due to this reason, China did not see the need of developing devices to replace human labor. Furthermore, labor was not a problem. On the contrary, Europe had a small population and a large piece of arable land. In addition to this, Europe was frequently affected by natural disasters such as wars, famine and epidemics that reduced the population making it easier for countries in the region to manage their population needs. In addition, it meant that Europe had to look for ways of providing labor therefore establishing mechanization as the solution to their problem. The sparse population and need for employees meant increased salaries (Guohao Mengwen and Tianqin 83). Britain was technologically advanced than China that led to the earlier scientific revolution. Industrialization was mainly based on technological development and Europe had invented many things. For instance, Europe discovered how to capture heat and utilize it for human benefit. The problem in Chi na was because subsequent generations seemed to start from scratch instead of going on in advancing ideas already invented by earlier generations (Guohao Mengwen and Tianqin 120). The complex culture of the Chinese was a reason towards its delay in scientific revolution. Cultural traditions and customs like mode of diet commonly referred to as the cuisine, literature, music among other things vary from one city to another. The country was made up of different ethnic groups whose traditional practices were different.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Why the Scientific Revolution did not Take Place in China–Or Did It? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This implied that there was no unity in the country as far as cultural practices were concerned. This made it difficult to join the people together for development of the county. Ebrey Walthall and Palais point out that for successful technological advancement, people should have common values and practices as symbol of unity (369). Scientific revolution was delayed because China did not produce surplus that could be exchanged with other countries to earn them foreign exchange. The country’s main crop was rice and most of it was consumed locally. In addition to this, accessibility was a problem. Transport facilities were not fully developed for easy transportation of goods making it difficult for commerce, which was crucial in the development of the economy (Ebrey Walthall and Palais 372). Conclusion In conclusion, scientific revolution marked a very significant period in many countries because it led to advancement in technology. In spite of the importance attached to the phase, China did not encounter the phase revolution at the same time when Europe did because of its large population, geographical setting and inadequate output. Before this period, most of the work was done manually, which was untidy and time-consuming. However, the invention of machine labor made work easier. Work that should have been done for many days could be done in few hours. Ebrey, Patricia, Walthall Anne and Palais, James. East Asia: A cultural, social, and political history. London: Cengage Learning, 2008.Print. Guohao, In, Mengwen, Zhang and Tianqin, Cao. Explorations in the history of science and technology in china. Shanghai: Shanghai Chinese Classics Publishing House, 1982.Print.Advertising Looking for assessment on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sivin, Nathan. Why the scientific revolution did not take place in China or did it? Shanghai: Chinese Science, 1982.Print

Environmental Problems in Victorian Era Britain essays

Environmental Problems in Victorian Era Britain essays Several factors in Great Britain during the Victorian age came together to form numerous problems. One problem among many was the issue of the environment. The new technology of the Industrial Revolution caused many problems for the Britainà ¿s environment. With the new gigantic machines at work in the city, workers were unable to work at home anymore. They were required to work in the city. This was also done so the masters of the factories could keep the workers under a tighter schedule. The new machines caused an enormous amount of pollution in the city. The air was smoggy, and the air had the acrid smell of burnt fossil fuels. The workers were forced to breathe in smoggy air, which often made them queasy, or very sick. This environmental problem greatly contributed to the outbreak of illness in Great Britain. Another factor which contributed to the disease outbreak was the close quarters they worked in. The limited space in the factories restricted the size of the workerà ¿s working area. This problem allowed the disease to spread like wildfire. Several disease outbreaks occurred, none of which were beneficial to the environment. It is almost certain that the diseases spread to animals who werenà ¿t immune to it. This would have weakened the food web. Many changes in Britain caused a domino effect, damaging the environment, spreading the disease to people, and also, as technology developed, more accidents happened. The Industrial Revolution caused many changes, positive and negative, and had a substantial effect on the environment of Great Britain. Several cities almost grew overnight in Britain in the 1700's. One example of this is the city Manchester. This city grew so quickly because of several features of the area. One major factor was the amount of coal in the area. The coal was the main power source for the engines and machines of the Revolution, so it was necessary for the major cities to have an abundance of coal. Manch...

My Participation in Relay For Life (RFL) essays

My Participation in Relay For Life (RFL) essays I recently volunteered at the Relay For Life Saturday April 13th, 2013 at the USF track There was a decent amount of people there including some cuties so that was a plus! The main rule was that each organization or team involved in Relay For Life has to have one walker on the track at all times. There were also fun games and contest such as the hairiest chest competition, which I did not make a run for as I have next to no hair on my chest, (I realize this is too much information, but just thought you should know). Then there was moment when they cut off the stadium lights and lit the candles in bags for lighting, which I vaguely remembered from my earlier experiences with Relay For Life. It was pretty cool as they lit the bags on the stadium reading Hope and then a little later they changed it so that it read Cure. A couple of people gave speeches and testimonys of personal experience with cancer, or stories of knowing someone who went through all the adversity that cancer brings with it. These speeches were then followed by the lap of silence around the track, which was emotional for many as it was also a silent remembrance of those who lost their battle with cancer. While most of Relay For Life was just hanging out and having a good time-as we played sports in the middle of the field for a while, I didnt feel guilty about it as another goal of Relay For Life is to have fun while celebrating and enjoying the life we have while we still have the chance. All the while getting healthy which helps prevent type two dia...

1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City Overview

1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City Overview The 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Mexico Only ten days before the 1968 Olympic Games were to open, the Mexican army surrounded a group of students who were protesting against the Mexican government at the Plaza of Three Cultures and opened fire into the crowd. It is estimated that 267 were killed and over 1,000 were wounded. During the Olympic Games, political statements were also made. Tommie Smith and John Carlos (both from the U.S.) won the gold and bronze medals, respectively, in the 200-meter race. When they stood (barefoot) upon the victory platform, during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner, they each raised one hand, covered by a black glove, in a Black Power salute (picture). Their gesture was meant to bring attention to the conditions of blacks in the United States. This act, since it went against the ideals of the Olympic Games, caused the two athletes to be expelled from the Games. The IOC stated, The basic principle of the Olympic Games is that politics plays no part whatsoever in them. U.S. athletes violated this universally accepted principle . . . to advertise domestic political views.* Dick Fosbury (United States) drew attention not because of any political statement, but because of his unorthodox jumping technique. Though there had been several techniques previously used to get over the high jump bar, Fosbury jumped over the bar backward and head first. This form of jumping became known as the Fosbury flop. Bob Beamon (United States) made headlines by an amazing long jump. Known as an erratic jumper because he often took off with the wrong foot, Beamon tore down the runway, jumped with the correct foot, cycled through the air with his legs, and landed at 8.90 meters (making a world record 63 centimeters beyond the old record). Many athletes felt that the high altitude of Mexico City affected the events, helping some athletes and hindering others. In response to complaints about the high altitude, Avery Brundage, the IOC president, stated, The Olympic Games belong to all the world, not the part of it at sea level.** It was at the 1968 Olympic Games that drug testing debuted. Though these Games were filled with political statements, they were very popular Games. Approximately 5,500 athletes participated, representing 112 countries. * John Durant, Highlights of the Olympics: From Ancient Times to the Present (New York: Hastings House Publishers, 1973) 185.** Avery Brundage as quoted in Allen Guttmann, The Olympics: A History of the Modern Games (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1992) 133. For More Information History of the OlympicsList of the Olympic GamesInteresting Olympic Facts

Race and Representation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Race and Representation - Essay Example At the same time the celebration has its own pit falls as it might retrogress into violence and killing at the slightest trigger. "This is a delicate situation, and â€Å"race† remains fissile material." (Gilroy, 2004, p. 14). There have been many studies centered on most races of the world. But the images of whiteness have not been placed under the microscope as much as other images of race especially that of blackness. The purpose of this study is to make a cursory glance of the images of whiteness that evolved over the years. Representation and study of racial images or stereotypes are having many sensitive issues. The visual representation of racial stereotypes might force people to re-live and freshen old memories, which might jeopardize inter-racial relation. However, academic pursuits cannot be neglected for the sensitivity of a few. In fact the study might throw light on the subliminal foundations for the formation of stereotypes and provide us the escape routes for the mounting racial and ethnic tensions that has resulted in the loss of many human lives. The idea of race itself is questionable, as Appiah has put it: There is nothing in the world that can do all we ask race to do for us†¦. Talk of race is particularly distressing for those of us who take culture seriously. For, when race works-in places where â€Å"gross differences† of morphology are correlated with â€Å"subtle differences† of temperament, belief, and intention-it works as an attempt at metonym for culture, and it does so only at the price of biologizing what is culture, ideology. (Appiah 1992:45) The central thesis of this paper is the essential nature of the image of whiteness as a historical construct developed over many years similar to its foil blackness. This study focuses on the works of Richard Dyer. Whiteness is essentially a body of knowledge, ideologies, behavioral norms, and many practices constructed over the history