Sound strength


One sound sounds quieter than the other. Sounds differ in sound intensity. Sound strength is a popular term, which is scientifically not well defined. For example, sound intensity may mean:

The sound intensity depends on the power transferred by the sound to our ear. Because sound consists of small, rapid pressure fluctuations around atmospheric pressure, the developed power is dependent on the pressure. Subjective sound strength

The sound intensity experienced by the human ear is not as accurate as the sound level. Thus, a subjective doubling of the sound strength appears to correspond to an increase of the sound level by 3 dB, thus by a factor of 3 for the intensity. At noise levels above about 90 dB, the hearing behaves very differently and is at risk of hearing damage if hearing is exposed to this level for a long time. In addition, the human hearing is not sensitive to all frequencies. Curves have been created that connect the sound pressures of equal subjective sound intensity for the different frequencies; such curves are called isophones. This size is displayed scientifically as the loudness.

When determining the sound level, by (electronic) filtering of the sound signal, consider some of these effects, then the sound level is expressed in dB (A). The sound level thus obtained then corresponds more to our current subjective sound observation.

The average long-term noise level is often displayed as an equivalent value, the LAeq. But the noise barrier does not have a proportional relationship with this equivalent level. At higher levels, the obstacle will be stronger than you expect from a linear relationship with the equivalent level.

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