Question

Suppose that the sound level of a conversation is initially at an angry 70 db and then drops to a soothing 50 db. assuming that the frequency of the sound is 500 hz, determine the (a) initial and (b) final sound intensities and the (c) initial and (d) final sound wave amplitudes.

Answer 1

Angry sound level = 70 db
Soothing sound level = 50 db
Frequency, f = 500 Hz
Assuming speed of sound = 345 m/s
Density (assumed) = 1.21 kg/m^3
Reference sound intensity, Io = 1*10^-12 w/m^2

Part (a): Initial sound intensity (angry sound)
10log (I/Io) = Sound level
Therefore,
For Ia = 70 db
Ia/(1*10^-12) = 10^(70/10)
Ia = 10^(70/10)*10^-12 = 1*10^-5 W/m^2

Part (b): Final sound intensity (soothing sound)
Is = 50 db
Therefore,
Is = 10^(50/10)*10^-12 = 18*10^-7 W/m^2

Part (c): Initial sound wave amplitude
Now,
I (W/m^2) = 0.5*A^2*density*velocity*4*π^2*frequency^2

Making A the subject;
A = Sqrt [I/(0.5*density*velocity*4π^2*frequency^2)]

Substituting;
A_initial = Sqrt [(1*10^-5)/(0.5*1.21*345*4π^2*500^2)] = 6.97*10^-8 m = 69.7 nm

Part (d): Final sound wave amplitude
A_final = Sqrt [(1*10^-7)/(0.5*1.21*345*4π^2*500^2)] = 6.97*10^-9 m = 6.97 nm