Question

A sound is recorded at 19 decibels. What is the intensity of the sound?

Answer 1

$1 \times 10^{-10.1} \mathrm{Wm}^{-2}$ is the intensity of the sound.

Answer: Option B

Explanation:

The range of sound intensity that people can recognize is so large (including 13 magnitude levels). The intensity of the weakest audible noise is called the hearing threshold. (intensity about $1 \times 10^{-12} \mathrm{Wm}^{-2}$). Because it is difficult to imagine numbers in such a large range, it is advisable to use a scale from 0 to 100.

This is the goal of the decibel scale (dB).  Because logarithm has the property of recording a large number and returning a small number, the dB scale is based on a logarithmic scale. The scale is defined so that the hearing threshold has intensity level of sound as 0.

                     $\text { Intensity }(d B)=(10 d B) \times \log _{10}\left(\frac{I}{I_{0}}\right)$

Where,

I = Intensity of the sound produced

$I_{0}$ = Standard Intensity of sound of 60 decibels = $1 \times 10^{-12} \mathrm{Wm}^{-2}$

So for 19 decibels, determine I as follows,

                   $19 d B=(10 d B) \times \log _{10}\left(\frac{I}{1 \times 10^{-12} W m^{-2}}\right)$

                  $\log _{10}\left(\frac{1}{1 \times 10^{-12} \mathrm{Wm}^{-2}}\right)=\frac{19}{10}$

                  $\log _{10}\left(\frac{1}{1 \times 10^{-12} \mathrm{Wm}^{-2}}\right)=1.9$

When log goes to other side, express in 10 to the power of that side value,

                  $\left(\frac{I}{1 \times 10^{-12} W m^{-2}}\right)=10^{1.9}$

                  $I=1 \times 10^{-12} \mathrm{Wm}^{-2} \times 10^{1.9}=1 \times 10^{-12-1.9}=1 \times 10^{-10.1} \mathrm{Wm}^{-2}$