Sound Intensity

[tandoorichicken]

The upper limit of the intensity level of sound waves is about 194 dB. This intensity corresponds to 100% modulation of the air; that is, the amplitude of the pressure oscillations corresponds to that of atmospheric pressure. What intensity (W/m^2) would be required to generate this level of sound?

Can I use the formula L = 10\log{\frac{I}{I_0}} ?
Because I don't know what to use as the reference intensity level...

[ShawnD]

Io is called the threshold of hearing (sp?) and if I'm not mistaken, its value is 10^-12 W/m^2


I get the answer as being 2.5119x10^7.

[himanshu121]

yes the value is correct