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Mushtaq Ahmed MSC Physics

1) Sound intensity is defined as the sound energy passing per second through a unit area held perpendicular to the direction of propagation of sound waves. 2) The unit of intensity is the watt per square meter (W/m^2). 3) The decibel scale is used to measure sound intensity levels, with each increase of 10 decibels corresponding to a tenfold increase in sound intensity.

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119 views18 pages

Mushtaq Ahmed MSC Physics

1) Sound intensity is defined as the sound energy passing per second through a unit area held perpendicular to the direction of propagation of sound waves. 2) The unit of intensity is the watt per square meter (W/m^2). 3) The decibel scale is used to measure sound intensity levels, with each increase of 10 decibels corresponding to a tenfold increase in sound intensity.

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Mushtaq Ahmed
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Mushtaq Ahmed MSc Physics

SOUND INTENSITY
LEVEL
Intensity of sound

■The sound waves transfer


energy from the sounding body
to the listener.
Dependence of intensity of sound

■Intensity of sound depends on the


amplitude of sound wave
Definition
■Sound energy passing per second through
a unit area held perpendicular to the
direction of propagation of sound waves is
called intensity of sound.
unit
■ Intensity is a physical quantity and can be measured
■  

accurately.
■ The unit of intensity of sound is watt per square
metre (W/ ).
Sound Intensity Level
■The human ear responds to the intensities ranging
■  

from W to more than 1W (which is loud enough


to be painful).
Zero bel
■  
■ .The barely audible and the faintest intensity of sound i.e.,
W is taken as reference intensity, called Zero bel
■ (a unit named after Alexander Graham Bell)..
Dependence of loudness of sound

■The intensity of sound


■The physical conditions of the ear
Intensity level
■The loudness (L) of a sound is directly proportional to the
■  

logarithm of intensity i.e.,


■L α log I
■L = K log .......... (1)
■where K is a constant of proportionality.
■Let L0 be the loudness of the faintest audible sound of intensity I0
■If be the loudness of an unknown sound of intensity I
■loudness of faintest audible sound is given by
■ L0 = K log ……… (2)
■Subtracting Eq. (.2) from Eq. (1), we get
■  

■ L-
■ L - = K (logI - log )
■ L- L0 = K log
■ This difference(L- L0 ) between is called the intensity level of the
unknown sound.
■ Intensity level = K log .......... (3)
One bel
■
■  
L-L0 = 1bel if I=10Io putting in eq (3)
■ Intensity level = log
■ 1 bel = K log
■ 1 bel = K log 10
■ 1 bel = k (1) K = 1 bel
■ Putting in (3) we get
■ Intensity level = ( 1 bel)log
■ Intensity level = log (bel) ------------(4)
Decibel (dB)
■
■  
bel is a very large unit of intensity level of a sound.
■ A smaller unit called decibel is used. Decibel is abbreviated as (dB)
■ It must be remembered that 1 bel is equal to 10 dB.
■ 1bel= 10dB
■ If the intensity level is measured in decibels,
■ Eq. (4) becomes
■ Intensity level = 10 log (dB) -----------------(5)
■ Using Eq. (5), we can construct a scale for measuring the intensity level of sound.
Such scale is known as “decibel scale
Example 11.1: Calculate the intensity levels of the (a)
faintest audible sound (b) rustling of leaves
■  . Solution:
■

■ (a)Intensity level of faintest audible sound can be w/m2


■ calculated by substituting I=I0= W/
■ Intensity level = 10 log (dB)
■ Intensity level of faintest sound = 10 log dB
■ Intensity level of faintest sound = 10 log 1 dB
■ Intensity level of faintest sound = 10 (0) dB
■ Intensity level of faintest sound = 0 dB
■ (b) As the intensity of the rustle of leaves is =I= W ,
■  

■ Intensity level = 10 log (dB)


■ Intensity level = 10 log (dB)
■ Intensity level = 10 log (dB)
■ Intensity level = 10 log (dB)
■ Intensity level = 10 log 10(dB)
■ Intensity level = 10 (1) (dB) =10 dB

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