Question

The power, or loudness, of sound is measured on a scale of increased by a factor of 100 \[( = {10^2})\], the sound is called twice as loud and when it increase 10,000 \[( = {10^4})\]times it is called four times as loud. The exponent of ten is called a bel and one decibel is one-tenth of a bel. Zero decibel is chosen as the intensity of the slowest sound which is just audible or is on the threshold of hearing whereas the intensity of loudest sound is about 170 decibels. Sound intensities above a level of nearly how much decibels produce a feeling of pain?
A. 60
B. 120
C. 140
D. 170

Answer 1

Hint: This question deals with the measure of loudness of sound. The unit ‘decibel’ is defined and described to understand the unit. It is given that a maximum loudness which our ears can tolerate is 170dB. We need to give the range at which our ears feel the sound to be too loud.

Complete step by step answer:
The loudness of sound is measured in various units. The loudness of a sound is characterised by the amplitude of the sound wave produced by the source. The loudness is actually power per unit square meter which is too complex to be presented and ranges over a large domain.
We use the unit Bel as the standard unit of measuring loudness of sound, most specifically it is the decibels (dB) which is used commonly.
Zero decibel is the least sound audible to human ears. The maximum sound over which our ears can get damaged is 170dB.
Above 120dB we feel the sound to be too loud and irritating.

So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Additional Information:
Decibel scale of measure is widely accepted due to its easy accommodation of hearing range.

Note: The sound audible to all people are not unique. There are people who can sense very feeble sounds as well as tolerate high loudness. We talk in ranges when talking about sound. Most animals are more sensitive to hearing than we are.