SOLUTION: The intensity of the sound of traffic at a busy intersection was measured at 9 × 10−5 W/m2. Find the intensity level in decibels. (Round your answer to the nearest whole num

Algebra ->  Logarithm Solvers, Trainers and Word Problems -> SOLUTION: The intensity of the sound of traffic at a busy intersection was measured at 9 × 10−5 W/m2. Find the intensity level in decibels. (Round your answer to the nearest whole num      Log On


   

Question 1206868: The intensity of the sound of traffic at a busy intersection was measured at
9 × 10−5 W/m2.
Find the intensity level in decibels. (Round your answer to the nearest whole number.)
Answer by math_tutor2020(3817) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Answer: 80 decibels

Work Shown

y+=+10%2Alog%28%28x%2F%2810%5E%28-12%29%29%29%29 Each log mentioned is base 10.

y+=+10%2Alog%28%28%289%2A10%5E%28-5%29%29%2F%2810%5E%28-12%29%29%29%29

y+=+10%2Alog%28%289%2A10%5E%28-5%2B12%29%29%29

y+=+10%2Alog%28%289%2A10%5E%287%29%29%29

y+=+10%2A%28log%28%289%29%29%2Blog%28%2810%5E%287%29%29%29%29

y+=+10%2A%28log%28%289%29%29%2B7%2Alog%28%2810%29%29%29

y+=+10%2A%280.954242509%2B7%2A1%29 approximately

y+=+79.54242509 approximately

y+=+80 when rounding to the nearest whole number

80 decibels is when there's a loud radio or a classroom lecture going on.
Source:
https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/College_Physics/College_Physics_1e_(OpenStax)/17%3A_Physics_of_Hearing/17.03%3A_Sound_Intensity_and_Sound_Level
On that page is also the mention of the formula I used.
Refer to formula 17.3.3

Here is another chart for reference

Image Source:
https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/inline-images/fig3.gif
https://www.osha.gov/noise
Refer to the subsection labeled "How loud is too loud?"