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How do the loudest sounds we can tolerate compare with the faintest sounds?

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Answer:

The loudest sounds that humans can tolerate are many orders of magnitude (10 to 12 orders of magnitude, to be precise) more intense than the faintest sounds we can detect.

The human ear can detect sounds with a wide range of intensities, from the faintest sound that is just audible to the loudest sound that can cause pain and even permanent damage to our hearing. The faintest sound that most humans can hear has an intensity of about 0 dB, which is equivalent to the threshold of hearing.

On the other hand, the loudest sound that most humans can tolerate has an intensity of around 120-130 dB. Sounds above this level can cause physical discomfort, pain, and even permanent damage to the ear.

So the range of sounds that we can perceive is incredibly wide, spanning many orders of magnitude in intensity. Our ears have evolved to be able to detect sounds over this wide range, which is important for our survival and communication.

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