HKUST AAF welcomed Prof. Xin Zhang's students for MECH5981 lab class. The session introduced two key acoustics spaces: the reverberation chamber and the anechoic chamber.

In the reverberation chamber, students explored how sound reflections and room modes affect measurements. Demonstrations of microphone movement and reverberation-time testing showed how acousticians assess sound decay and use room measurements in sound-power and sound-absorption evaluations.

The class also visited the anechoic chamber, where sound-absorbing wedges help create a controlled free-field environment. Students learned how the chamber is designed and verified, and how sound levels change with distance from a source. The visit highlighted why sound-pressure measurements at multiple positions are important when estimating a source’s sound power.

We were pleased to support the professor’s teaching and give students the opportunity to connect acoustics theory with practical laboratory demonstrations.