At a certain distance from a sound source the intensity is measured to be 80 dB.What is the intensity of the sound in W/m²? A)10^-4 B)10⁸ C)10⁴ D)10⁸⁰ E)10^-16

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The intensity level in decibels (dB) is calculated using the formula $L = 10 \log_{10} \left(\frac{I}{I_0}\right)$, where $L$ is the intensity level in dB, $I$ is the intensity in W/m$^2$, and $I_0$ is the reference intensity ($10^{-12}$ W/m$^2$). Rearranging the formula to solve for $I$ when $L = 80$ dB gives $I = 10^{-12} \times 10^{8} = 10^{-4}$ W/m$^2$.

At a Certain Distance from a Sound Source the Intensity