Do “brassy” sounding musical instruments need increased safe distancing requirements to minimize the spread of COVID-19? | Zendy

Thomas R. Moore | Zendy; Ashley E. Cannaday | Zendy

Open Access

Do “brassy” sounding musical instruments need increased safe distancing requirements to minimize the spread of COVID-19?

Author(s) -

Thomas R. Moore,

Ashley E. Cannaday

Publication year - 2020

Publication title -

the journal of the acoustical society of america

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 0.619

H-Index - 187

eISSN - 1520-8524

pISSN - 0001-4966

DOI - 10.1121/10.0002182

Subject(s) - shock (circulatory) , brass , covid-19 , entrainment (biomusicology) , particle (ecology) , shock tube , acoustics , shock wave , mechanics , materials science , meteorology , geology , optics , environmental science , physics , oceanography , metallurgy , medicine , disease , pathology , copper , infectious disease (medical specialty) , rhythm

Brass wind instruments with long sections of cylindrical pipe, such as trumpets and trombones, sound “brassy” when played at a fortissimo level due to the generation of a shock front in the instrument. It has been suggested that these shock fronts may increase the spread of COVID-19 by propelling respiratory particles containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus several meters due to particle entrainment in the low pressure area behind the shocks. To determine the likelihood of this occurring, fluorescent particles, ranging in size from 10–50 μm, were dropped into the shock regions produced by a trombone, a trumpet, and a shock tube. Preliminary results indicate that propagation of small airborne particles by the shock fronts radiating from brass wind instruments is unlikely.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research