2007-09-03 09:57:41 · 2 answers · asked by X 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
118 dB is over 6 times louder than sitting at the front row of a rock concert. But, as was mentioned, sound intensity depends on distance. The relationship is an inverse square law; if you double your distance from the source, the sound intensity will be decreased to one fourth the original intensity. The 118 dB rating must correspond to a specific distance from the horn. The threshold of pain (the intensity at which sound becomes painful to the ear) is 130 dB, which is only 10^((130 - 118)/10) = 15.8 times more intense than 118 dB. So if you were at a distance equal to one fourth of the distance at which 118 dB was measured, the intensity would increase by a factor of 16 and exceed the threshold of pain.
2007-09-06 20:41:45 · answer #1 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Decibals ratings need two numbers - the decibal rating (118 in your case) and distance.
Unless the distance is given, the decibal reading means nothing.
A fart can be 118 decibals if your ear is right next to it.
2007-09-03 17:07:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋