Question

The intensity at distance from a spherically symmetric sound source is 100 W/m2. What is the intensity at five times this distance from the source?

Answer 1

To solve this problem it is necessary to apply the concepts related to intensity as a function of power and area.

Intensity is defined to be the power per unit area carried by a wave. Power is the rate at which energy is transferred by the wave. In equation form, intensity I is

$I = \frac{P}{A}$

The area of a sphere is given by

$A = 4\pi r^2$

So replacing we have to

$I = \frac{P}{4\pi r^2}$

Since the question tells us to find the proportion when

$r_1 = 5r_2 \rightarrow \frac{r_2}{r_1} = \frac{1}{5}$

So considering the two intensities we have to

$I_1 = \frac{P_1}{4\pi r_1^2}$

$I_2 = \frac{P_2}{4\pi r_2^2}$

The ratio between the two intensities would be

$\frac{I_1}{I_2} = \frac{ \frac{P_1}{4\pi r_1^2}}{\frac{P_2}{4\pi r_2^2}}$

The power does not change therefore it remains constant, which allows summarizing the expression to

$\frac{I_1}{I_2}=(\frac{r_2}{r_1})^2$

Re-arrange to find $I_2$

$I_2 = I_1 (\frac{r_1}{r_2})^2$

$I_2 = 100*(\frac{1}{5})^2$

$I_2 = 4W/m^2$

Therefore the intensity at five times this distance from the source is $4W/m^2$