Concept explainers
Because the human ear is so sensitive to sounds, it can detect very small intensities. The lower intensity that a human can hear (which is represented with the symbol I0
) is about 1x10-12 W/m2. However, a loud music venue may have sounds that are near 1.0 W/m2 (though sound as this intensity would cause permanent damage to your ears). Because the human ear can detect frequencies over such a large range of intensities, more often a sound intensity level is used. This level is defined as:
β=10⋅log10II0
and the unit is dB which stands for deci-bels (or just decibels). If a person speaks with an intensity of 0.701 μ
W/m2, what is the sound intensity level in decibels? Note: In the space below, please enter you numerical answer. Do not enter any units. If you enter units, your answer will be marked as incorrect.
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- Because the human ear is so sensitive to sounds, it can detect very small intensities. The lower intensity that a human can hear (which is represented with the symbol I 0) is about 1x10-12 W/m2. However, a loud music venue may have sounds that are near 1.0 W/m2 (though sound as this intensity would cause permanent damage to your ears). Because the human ear can detect frequencies over such a large range of intensities, more often a sound intensity level is used. This level is defined as: β = 10 ⋅ log 10 I I 0 and the unit is dB which stands for deci-bels (or just decibels). If a person speaks with an intensity of 2.443 μW/m2, what is the sound intensity level in decibels?arrow_forwardWhat is the intensity (in W/m2) of a sound that has a level 3.00 dB lower than a 3.33 ✕ 10−9 W/m2 sound? (b) What is the intensity (in W/m2) of a sound that is 10.0 dB higher than a 3.33 ✕ 10−9 W/m2 sound?arrow_forwardA person standing 1.15 m from a portable speaker hears its sound at an intensity of 6.70 ✕ 10−3 W/m2. HINT (a) Find the corresponding decibel level. Don't confuse intensity with intensity level. Intensity is a physical quantity with units of watts per meter squared. Intensity level, or decibel level, is based on the logarithm of a ratio of intensities and gives an approximate measure of our perception of loudness. dB (b) Find the sound intensity (in W/m2) at a distance of 39.0 m, assuming the sound propagates as a spherical wave. W/m2 (c) Find the decibel level at a distance of 39.0 m.arrow_forward
- The warning tag on a lawn mower states that it produces noise at a level of 99.0 dB. What is this in W/m2?arrow_forwardThe lower intensity that a human can hear (which is represented with the symbol I0) is about 1x10-12 W/m2. However, a loud music venue may have sounds that are near 1.0 W/m2 (though sound as this intensity would cause permanent damage to your ears). Because the human ear can detect frequencies over such a large range of intensities, more often a sound intensity level is used. This level is defined as: β=10 ⋅ log10 ⋅ I/I0 If a person speaks with an intensity of 4.062 μW/m2, what is the sound intensity level in decibels?arrow_forwardA sound wave at 20° C has pressure amplitude of 2.00 Pa. The density of air is 1.2 Kg/m and the threshold for hearing intensity is 1012 w/m2. The speed of sound in air is 344 m/s. (a) Find the intensity of the sound wave. (b) Find the intensity in decibels.arrow_forward
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- True or False: The sound level of a wave with intensity 4.0*10-8 W/m2 is calculated as: 10dB log(4.0x10^4)arrow_forwardBecause the human ear is so sensitive to sounds, it can detect very small intensities. The lower intensity that a human can hear (which is represented with the symbol I0 ) is about 1x10-12 W/m2. However, a loud music venue may have sounds that are near 1.0 W/m2 (though sound as this intensity would cause permanent damage to your ears). Because the human ear can detect frequencies over such a large range of intensities, more often a sound intensity level is used. This level is defined as: β=10⋅log10II0 and the unit is dB which stands for deci-bels (or just decibels). If a person speaks with an intensity of 2.443 μ W/m2, what is the sound intensity level in decibels? Note: In the space below, please enter you numerical answer. Do not enter any units. If you enter units, your answer will be marked as incorrect.arrow_forwardTwo sound waves have intensities of 1 times 10 to the -5 W/m2 and 5 times 10 to the -4 W/m2. What is the difference in their intensities levels (db)? I0 = 10 to the -12 W/m2.arrow_forward
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