Acoustics (from the Greek ἀκούειν (pronounced "akuein") 'to hear' or akoustikós, 'pertaining to hearing') is the study of sound and its propagation. This scientific field encompasses a wide range of related topics, such as the origin and generation, propagation, influence, and analysis of sound, its perception by the ear, and its effect on humans and animals. Acoustics is an interdisciplinary field that builds on knowledge from numerous disciplines, including physics, psychology, communications engineering, and materials science. Acoustics is also (loosely) divided into three subfields:
Physical acoustics (often referred to simply as "acoustics") covers in particular subfields of classical mechanics, physiological acoustics deals with sound reception and transmission in the auditory organs, and psychological acoustics deals with the conversion of acoustic nerve stimulation into auditory perception.
The most important applications of acoustics include the study and reduction of noise, efforts to produce pleasant sounds, and the transmission of acoustic information, such as sound. The use of sound for diagnostic or technical purposes is also an important application of acoustics.
