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A normal conversation has a sound level of approximately 60db. A live rock band has a sound level of approximately 130db. How many times more intense is the rock band compared to normal conversation? (Is it just 130/60?) (Pre-calc)

User Hobs
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Final answer:

A live rock band at 130 dB is 10^7 times more intense than a normal conversation at 60 dB, as a 10 dB increase represents a tenfold increase in sound intensity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Intensity of Sound Compared Between Conversations and Rock Bands

The intensity of sound is measured in decibels (dB), which is a logarithmic scale. This means that for every increase of 10 dB, the intensity of the sound is multiplied by a factor of 10. To determine how many times more intense a 130 dB rock band is compared to a normal conversation at 60 dB, we calculate the difference in dB and then find the corresponding factor of intensity.

The difference in dB between the rock band and normal conversation is 130 dB - 60 dB = 70 dB. Since each increase of 10 dB represents a tenfold increase in intensity, we divide the difference by 10 and then use 10 raised to that power. Thus:


  • 70 dB / 10 dB = 7

  • The intensity factor is 107

Therefore, a rock band at 130 dB is 107 times more intense than a normal conversation at 60 dB.

User Tadas
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