How Does Playing Alone Affect a Violinist's Sound Intensity Level?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the sound intensity level when one violinist plays a soft passage compared to all eight playing together, with the initial level at 32.0 dB. It emphasizes that the violins act as incoherent sources, meaning their sounds do not combine linearly. Participants suggest using the equation for sound pressure addition for incoherent sources, which involves summing the squares of individual sound pressures. The conversion from linear scale to decibels is also highlighted, utilizing the formula "10 log x." The conversation seeks clarity on the expected sound intensity level when only one violinist plays.
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Homework Statement



During a rehearsal, all eight members of the first violin section of an orchestra play a very soft passage. The sound intensity level at a certain point in the concert hall is 32.0 dB. What is the sound intensity level at the same point if only one of the violinists plays the same passage?
[Hint: When playing together, the violins are incoherent sources of sound.]
____ dB

Homework Equations



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The Attempt at a Solution



Shouldnt this answer be around 40 something? If not any help would be awesome
 
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Look up the equation for sound pressure addition for incoherent sources. The total pressure is the sum of the squares of the individual sources.

You can convert from the linear scale to dB scale using the good old "10 log x".
 
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