Two sources of sound have intensities 1W/m2 and 0.001W/m2 and a distance of 1m. What is the difference in sound intensity level (SIL) of these two sources?

Question

Physics

Leila Goodman

8 November, 06:34

Two sources of sound have intensities 1W/m2 and 0.001W/m2 and a distance of 1m. What is the difference in sound intensity level (SIL) of these two sources?

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Catherine Burke · Answer 1

Sound Intensity is used to determine the intensity of sound waves. It has the units of decibel. We use the formula:

I (L) = 10log (I / Io)

We use Io equal to 10^-12 W/m2. We calculate as follows:

I (L) = 10log (1 W/m2 / 10^-12 W/m2) = 120 dB

I (L) = 10log (0.001 W/m2 / 10^-12 W/m2) = 90 dB

Therefore, the difference between the sources would be 30 decibels.