Electroacoustics: Capacitors and Transducers

This lecture covers the basic principles of electroacoustics, focusing on capacitors and transducers. It explains the electro-mechanical analogies, electrostatic transduction, and coupling equations. The capacitance of a capacitor, the electrostatic force, and the variation in voltage between electrodes are discussed. The lecture also delves into the operation of electrostatic actuators and sensors, emphasizing the non-linearities in electrostatic transduction. Examples such as condenser microphones are used to illustrate the concepts, including the modeling of microphone membranes and the electrical circuits involved. The importance of linearization in sensors and actuators is highlighted, along with the coupling equations representing the transduction process.