Question

What is the intensity in watts per meter squared of 80.9 dB sound?

Answer 1

We are asked to determine the intensity of 80.9 dB of a sound wave. To do that we will use the following formula:

`I=I_0(10^{(\beta)/(10)})`

Where:

`\begin{gathered} I=\text{ intesity} \\ \beta=\text{ decibells. } \end{gathered}`

The reference value is the following:

`I_0=1*10^(-12)(W)/(m^2)`

Substituting the values:

`I=(1*10^(-12)(W)/(m^2))(10^{(80.9)/(10)})`

Solving the operation we get:

`I=1.2*10{}^(-4)(W)/(m^2)`

Therefore, the intensity is 1.2 x 10 ^-4 W/m^2.