Question

The decibel scale intensity for busy traffic is 80 dB. Two people having a loud conversation have a decibel intensity of 70 dB. What is the approximate combined sound intensity?

Answer 1

Given :

The decibel scale intensity for busy traffic is 80 dB.

Two people having a loud conversation have a decibel intensity of 70 dB.

To Find :

The approximate combined sound intensity.

Solution :

We know, intensity in decibel can be converted to W/m² by :

`\beta(dB) = 10\ log_(10)( (I)/(I_o))`

Putting intensity in decibel scale, we get :

`I(80\ dB ) =10^(-4)\ W/m^2\\\\I(70\ dB ) = 10^(-5)\ W/m^2`

Let, combine intensity is I .

I = I(80 dB) + I(70 dB)

`I = 10^(-4) + 10^(-5) \ W/m^2\\\\I = 1.1 * 10^(-4) \ W/m^2`

Therefore, the combined sound intensity is
`1.1 * 10^(-4) \ W/m^2` .