The faintest audible sound has a pressure amplitude of about

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Waves · Waves

Problem

2\times10^{-5}\,\text{N}/\text{m}^2

, and the loudest sound audible without pain has a pressure amplitude of about

28\,\text{N}/\text{m}^2

. Assume that the air density is

1.29\,\text{kg}/\text{m}^3

and the speed of sound is

345\,\text{m}/\text{s}

. (a) Find the intensity of each sound in

\text{W}/\text{m}^2

and in decibels. (b) Find the amplitude of the oscillations for each sound if the frequency is

500\,\text{Hz}