Sound Wave
Light, Sound and Waves

Performing twice at the Royal Albert Hall

Stories from Physics for 11-14 14-16 IOP RESOURCES

When the Royal Albert Hall was opened by the Prince of Wales in 1871, his address was difficult to hear due to an echo which “repeated the words with a mocking emphasis which at another time would have been amusing”. A number of methods for reducing the poor acoustics were attempted without success. The echo was so pronounced that musicians joked that the Royal Albert Hall was the only venue where a performer was guaranteed that their work would be heard twice.

The phenomenon was substantially rectified in 1968 when the BBC’s Ken Shearer developed the idea of ‘mushrooms’, large discs that hang from the base of the dome, to prevent reflection from the curved ceiling.

References

IOP AWARDS 2025

Teachers of Physics Awards

The Teachers of Physics Award celebrates the success of secondary school physics teachers who have raised the profile of physics and science in schools. Nominations for 2025 are now open.

Start your nomination now