Sound Intensity Calculator

The sound intensity level calculator finds the value of sound in decibels. This information helps to know how intense a sound is. You can find any of the three values by entering the remaining two.

Sound intensity is the energy or power by which sound waves travel across a medium. It varies with objects. For example, a closing door will produce less sound as compared to an elephant trumpeting.

What is the Sound intensity level?

The sound intensity level is a ratio between any sound and the faintest sound that is possible for humans to hear. It is written as;

IL (β) = 10 log₁₀ (I/I₀)

Here I is sound intensity and I₀ is the reference intensity. It is measured in decibels. DSound intensity is represented by the beta symbol β.

Humans can hear sounds between a range. This range is 10^-12Wm² to 1Wm². The sound of frequency 10^-12Wm² is called zero bel and it is also the reference intensity.

How to find sound intensity level?

Since the formula involves a logarithm, it can be tricky. So the best and suggested way is to use the intensity level calculator.

But for your convenience, the manual method is explained through an example below.

Example: 

If the intensity of a sound is 124 Wm^-2 then find its intensity level.

Solution:

Step 1: Identify the values.

Sound intensity = 124 Wm²

Reference intensity = 10^-12 Wm²

Step 2: Put the values in the formula:

β = 10 log10 (I/I0)

β = 10 log10 (124/10^-12)

β = 140.932 db

Sound Intensity Table

Examples	Intensity (Wm2)	Decibels
Silence	10-12	0
Breathing	10-11	10
Rustle of leaves	10-10	20
Whispering	10-9	30
Refrigerator, computer hum	10-8	40
Rain	10-7	50
Conversation	10-6	60
Shower, flush, car	10-5	70
A truck, loud radio	10-4	80
Lawnmower, hairdryer	10-3	90
A helicopter, subway train	10-2	100
Trombone, rock band	10-1	110
Airplane on taking off, police siren	10	120
Threshold of pain	102	130
Fireworks	103	140
Gunshot	104	150
Fighter jet	105	160
Rocket launch	106	170