THE REVERBERATION TIME AND CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE ACOUSTICS OF SOME LARGE CHURCHES IN THE JOS METROPOLIS

L. Obagboye¹, Bulus Gyang² and A P Onuche³

¹School of Theoretical Physics National Mathematical Centre Abuja

²Department of Physics, University of Jos

³Department of Mathematical Sciences University of Petroleum Resources Effuru  

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates why some very expensively built church auditoria turn out to be below standard as far as good acoustics and sound intelligibility is concerned. The study included the physical aspects –measurements of the dimensions of the auditoria and other physical parameters that would affect the acoustics on the one hand, and obtaining the responses of the congregation on the auditoria acoustics on the other hand. Reverberation time for the enclosures considered was calculated from the slope of the sound as plotted by a sound level recorder and the Sabine’s formula. There is a correlation between the complaints of the users of the auditoria and the results obtained.

Keywords: Intelligibility, Reverberation Time (RT) and Acoustics of Large Church Auditoria.