Question

Sound waves can be ranked by their intensity, I, given in this formula, where r is the distance from the source of a sound with a power output of P:

4πIr²
Which equation correctly rewrites the formula to solve for I?

A) I = P / 4πr²
B) I = 4πr² / P
C) I = P / r²
D) I = r² / 4πP

Answer 1

The correct equation to solve for intensity, given power output and distance from the source of a sound wave, is I = P / (4πr²).

Step-by-step explanation:

The formula for ranking sound waves by their intensity is given by 4πIr², where I is the intensity and r is the distance from the source of the sound with power output P. To solve for I, we need to rearrange the formula.

The correct equation to solve for I is I = P / (4πr²), option A.

This equation allows us to calculate the intensity given the power output and distance from the source.