Goal is to study the science of sound. Science is both a body of knowledge and a process. Science depends on generalizations, the assumption that observations or specific cases hold for general cases. Science makes classifications to ease the study of the body of knowledge. Science makes quantified measures and predictions. Finally all scientific knowledge is verified by experiment.
The Scientific Method has two paths to gaining insight. Inductive reasoning takes the specific to the general, while dedictive reasoning applies the general to the specific. The two go together when applying the scientific method. Problems are stated, past results provide a guide, experiments are performed, generalizations and predictions are made, additional experiments are performed to test, and finally the results are promulgated to inspire the search for additional knowledge.
There is a general heirarchy of scientific knowledge. Experimental facts are always to be respected. A hypothesis is a tentative statement that explains some features of the facts and perhaps makes further predictions. A law is a hypothesis that has been proven by experiment and makes valuable predictions. A theory or model is scheme that describes nature and makes valuable preditions. Often these grow from hypothesis that have been tested experimentally.
Science and technology are different. Technology is the application of science. Technology is crucial for making further advances in science.
Acoustics is the science and technology of the production, proprigation, and perception of sound. We concentrate on the physical laws that govern music and speech. It has two major aspects, physical and perceptual acoustics. Underlying all is vibrations.
A modern endeavor. Some work by the ancients; Pythagoras and theatre acoustics. Quantitative study in 1600's. Galileo first relates pitch and frequency. Sound propigates and its speed in air. Advancement of theory in the 1700's. 1800's saw the birth of acoustics with Helmholtz and Rayleigh and the invention of sound reproduction equipment. Rapid advance in the 1900's continuing until today.