Tag: intensity and loudness

Questions Related to intensity and loudness

Multiple choice intensity and loudness waves physics

The loudness of sound is measured in _______ .

  1. decibels

  2. metres

  3. kilograms

  4. seconds

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The loudness of sound is measured in units called decibels (dB). A decibel unit expresses the relative intensity of sounds on a scale from zero for the average least perceptible sound to about 100 dB, which is near the level most people find uncomfortably loud.

Multiple choice intensity and loudness waves physics

S. I. unit of intensity of sound is:

  1. joule s$^{-1}$ m$^{-2}$
  2. watt m$^{-2}$
  3. joule s/m$^2$
  4. both A and B

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In S. I. unit of intensity of sound is
joule s$^{-1}$ m$^{-2}$ or watt m$^{-2}$
Intensity = sound energy/time $\times$ area

Multiple choice intensity and loudness waves physics

Identify the scale which can be used to measure the intensity of sound?

  1. decibel

  2. acoustic

  3. ultrasound

  4. infrasound

  5. Hertz

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Intensity (or loudness) of sound         $L =10 \log _{10} \dfrac{I}{I _o}$

It is measured in decibel  (dB)

Multiple choice intensity and loudness waves physics

A normal human being can hear sound having an intensity level of maximum ...................

  1. 50 dB

  2. 80 dB

  3. 100 dB

  4. 150 dB

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Decibel levels help us to understand the loudness of a sound with respect to a reference level. A decibel level of zero dB represents the lowest level of sound and a level of 80 dB represents the level of pain for humans.

Multiple choice intensity and loudness waves physics

How many order of magnitude more powerful is 90 dB sound than 40 dB sound?

  1. 5

  2. 50

  3. 500

  4. $ {10}^ {5} $
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

$90 = 10 log (\dfrac{I _{1}}{I})$

$40 = 10 log (\dfrac{I _{2}}{I})$

$90 - 40 = 10 log (\dfrac{I _{1}}{I _{2}})$

$\dfrac{I _{1}}{I _{2}} = 10^{5}$

Multiple choice intensity and loudness waves physics

If the intensity of sound is increased by a factor of 30 , by how many decibels is the sound level increased ?

  1. 12 dB

  2. 14.77 dB

  3. 10 dB

  4. 13 dB

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
The intensity of sound in increased by factor $30$
Let $2$ be the intensity of previous sound
Intensity of recent sound $I=30I$
$\beta =10 \log\dfrac{I}{I _o}$
$\beta _1=10 \log\dfrac{I}{I _o}$ where intensity of sound is $ I$
$\beta _1=10 \log\dfrac{30I}{I _o}$ when intensity of sound is $I$
Increased in sound level $\Rightarrow \beta _2-\beta _1$
$=10 \log\dfrac{30I}{I _o}-10\log \dfrac{I}{I _o}$
$=10 \log 30$
$10 \log \dfrac{30 I}{I}$
$=14.77d\beta$.
Multiple choice intensity and loudness waves physics

When a person wears a hearing aid, the sound intensity level increases by 30 dB. The sound intensity increases by  

  1. e$^{3}$
  2. 10$^{3}$
  3. 30

  4. 10$^{2}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Let the intensity of the sound without hearing Aid is $I _0$, and the 


intensity after wearing hearing aid is $I$, then from the formula, 

$L _{db}=10 \log _{10}{\dfrac{I}{I _0}}$

$30=10 \log _{10}{\dfrac{I}{I _0}}$

$\dfrac{I}{I _0}=10^3$

$I=10^3 \times I _0$

Option "B" is correct.

Multiple choice intensity and loudness waves physics

Spherical sound waves are emitted uniformly in all directions from a point source. The variation in sound level SL as a function of distance 'r' from the source can be written as 

  1. SL = -b log r$^{a}$
  2. SL = a - b (log r)$^{2}$
  3. SL = a - b log r

  4. SL = a - b/r$^{2}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

we know $SL = 10 log \dfrac{I}{I _o}$


$I = \dfrac{P}{4\pi r^2}$  where P is the power of the source

$SL = 10  log\dfrac{P}{4\pi r^2I _o} = 10  log \dfrac{P}{4\pi I _o} - 10  log  r^2 = 10  log \dfrac{P}{4\pi I _o} - 20  log  r = a - b  log  r$

Multiple choice intensity and loudness waves physics

The intensity level of two sounds are 100 dB and 50 dB. What is the ratio of their intensities?

  1. 10$^{1}$
  2. 10$^{3}$
  3. 10$^{5}$
  4. 10$^{10}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Loudness of two sounds is given as  $L _2 = 100 \ dB$ and $L _1 = 50 \ dB$

Loudness of sound  $L = 10 \log _{10}\dfrac{I}{I _o}$
$\implies$  $L _2 - L _1 = 10\log _{10}\dfrac{I _2}{I _1}$

Or  $100 - 50   = 10\log _{10}\dfrac{I _2}{I _1}$

Or  $\log _{10}\dfrac{I _2}{I _1} = 5$
Or  $\dfrac{I _2}{I _1} = 10^5 $

Multiple choice intensity and loudness waves physics

A source of sound emits 200 W power which is uniformly distributed over a sphere of radius 10 m. What is the loudness of sound on the surface of sphere? 

  1. 70dB

  2. 107dB

  3. 80dB

  4. 112dB

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Intensity is given by:
$I=\dfrac{W}{4\pi{r}^2}$
$I=\dfrac{200}{4\pi\times 100} =0.159W/m^2$

In terms of decibels, $I=10\log _{ 10 }{ I } +120 dB$
$I=112dB$