Mission SM3 Sound Intensity and DeciBel Levels
Hold down the T key for 3 seconds to activate the audio accessibility mode, at which point you can click the K key to pause and resume audio. Useful for the Check Your Understanding and See Answers.
Sound A has a deciBel level of 40 deciBels. Sound B is 100 times more intense than sound A. The deciBel level of sound B is ____ dB.
Every sound intensity has a unique deciBel rating. The deci of deciBeThe deciBel system is based on powers of 10. The intensity of one sound is compared to another sound in terms of how many powers of 10 more intense that it is. Each power of 10 corresponds to a sound with a deciBel rating that is 10 dB higher. So if one sound is three powers of 10 more intense (103 times more intense), then its deciBel rating is 10 db + 10 db + 10 dB higher. Or if a sound is four powers of 10 more intense (104 times more intense), then its deciBel rating is 10 db + 10 db + 10 db + 10 dB higher. See Math Magic section.
If one sound is 101 times more intense than a second sound, then its Bel rating is 1 Bel higher and its deciBel rating is 10 deciBels higher.
If one sound is 102 times more intense than a second sound, then its Bel rating is 2 Bels higher and its deciBel rating is 20 deciBels higher.
If one sound is 103 times more intense than a second sound, then its Bel rating is 3 Bels higher and its deciBel rating is 30 deciBels higher.
If one sound is 104 times more intense than a second sound, then its Bel rating is 4 Bels higher and its deciBel rating is 40 deciBels higher.
