Question

The intensity of sound is measured in?

Answer 1

Answer: Decibel

Explanation:

Sound intensity is measured in decibels (dB), which is a logarithmic unit used to express the ratio of a physical quantity relative to a reference level. The decibel scale helps us understand and compare different sound levels in a way that matches how our ears perceive loudness.

The decibel was named after Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. Originally, the unit was called "bel," but since this was too large for practical measurements, scientists started using the decibel, which is one-tenth of a bel. This smaller unit makes it much easier to work with everyday sound measurements.

The reason we use a logarithmic scale instead of a linear scale is fascinating. Our ears can detect an enormous range of sound intensities - from the faintest whisper to sounds that can damage our hearing. If we used a linear scale, we would need incredibly large numbers to represent loud sounds. The logarithmic decibel scale compresses this huge range into manageable numbers.

Here are some common sound levels to help you understand the decibel scale:

• 0 dB - The threshold of human hearing (the quietest sound we can detect) • 30 dB - A quiet library or whisper • 60 dB - Normal conversation • 90 dB - Heavy traffic or lawn mower • 120 dB - Rock concert or jet engine • 140 dB - Gunshot or fireworks (can cause immediate hearing damage)

An important thing to remember about the decibel scale is that it's not linear - it's logarithmic. This means that an increase of 10 dB represents a sound that's actually 10 times more intense. So a sound at 70 dB is 10 times more intense than a sound at 60 dB, and 100 times more intense than a sound at 50 dB.

Understanding decibels is crucial for protecting our hearing health. Prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 dB can cause hearing damage, while sounds above 120 dB can cause immediate and permanent hearing loss. This is why workers in noisy environments like construction sites or airports are required to wear hearing protection.