Calculating Acoustic Pressure: Threshold of Pain for the Ear

In summary, acoustic pressure is the measure of the force exerted by sound waves on a surface and is typically measured in pascals (Pa). It can be calculated using the formula P = ρc^2A and is affected by factors such as amplitude, frequency, density, speed, and distance. Acoustic pressure is measured in pascals (Pa) or decibels (dB) and is closely related to sound intensity, which measures the energy of sound waves. Both are important in understanding the effects of sound on the environment and human health.
  • #1
t3rom
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Homework Statement



Atmospheric pressure is 101 kPa. Compute the acoustic pressure that corresponds to the threshold of pain for the ear. What percentage of atmospheric pressure is this?


Homework Equations



L=20log(P/Po)

Po is a constant = 2x 10-5
threshold of pain for the ear=130db

The Attempt at a Solution



I'm getting 63 Pa (or 0.06%) for the acoustic pressure but it doesn't correspond to the answer which is one of the following.

2%
200%
0.2%

Thanks!
 
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  • #2
Turns out my calculation were wrong, I got the answer.
 

1. What is acoustic pressure?

Acoustic pressure is the measure of the force exerted by sound waves on a surface. It is a measure of the magnitude of sound waves and is typically measured in units of pascals (Pa).

2. How is acoustic pressure calculated?

Acoustic pressure can be calculated using the formula P = ρc^2A, where P is the acoustic pressure, ρ is the density of the medium, c is the speed of sound in the medium, and A is the amplitude of the sound wave.

3. What factors affect acoustic pressure?

The main factors that affect acoustic pressure are the amplitude and frequency of the sound wave, the density and speed of the medium, and the distance from the source of the sound wave.

4. What units are used to measure acoustic pressure?

Acoustic pressure is typically measured in units of pascals (Pa), which is a unit of pressure. It can also be measured in decibels (dB), which is a unit of intensity.

5. How is acoustic pressure related to sound intensity?

Acoustic pressure and sound intensity are closely related, as they both measure the magnitude of sound waves. However, while acoustic pressure measures the force of the sound wave on a surface, sound intensity measures the energy of the sound wave per unit area. They are both important factors in understanding the effects of sound waves on the environment and human health.

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