Sound Dissipation: Find Equation to Measure How Far it Travels

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the sound level required for a rock concert 4 kilometers away to be barely audible at 30 decibels. The inverse-square law is highlighted, indicating that sound intensity diminishes with distance, specifically that sound is 100 times quieter at 10 times the distance. Additionally, the logarithmic nature of the decibel scale is emphasized, where an increase of 10 dB corresponds to a tenfold increase in perceived loudness. Factors such as obstacles and atmospheric conditions can further affect sound dissipation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the inverse-square law in acoustics
  • Familiarity with the logarithmic scale of decibels
  • Basic knowledge of sound propagation and environmental factors
  • Awareness of frequency-dependent sound travel characteristics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the inverse-square law in sound propagation
  • Learn about the effects of environmental factors on sound travel
  • Explore the relationship between frequency and sound dissipation
  • Study practical applications of decibel calculations in real-world scenarios
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Acoustics enthusiasts, physics students, sound engineers, and anyone interested in understanding sound propagation and its practical implications.

pmads
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I am not a physics student, although i have taken grade 11 physics :P, but i do have a general question to do with sound. My question came from this. There is suppose to be a rock concert about 4 Km away from my house. How many dbs would the concert have to produce in order for it to be barely audible (around 30 decibels) from my backyard at a tempterature of 25 degrees celsius (not sure if that matters for the distance sound can travel). So i guess what I am looking for is some sort of equation to measure how sound dissipates? Any help would be greatly appreciated, sorry if my question is lacking some key elements, let me know if you need more info.
 
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pmads said:
There is suppose to be a rock concert about 4 Km away from my house. How many dbs would the concert have to produce in order for it to be barely audible (around 30 decibels) from my backyard at a tempterature of 25 degrees celsius (not sure if that matters for the distance sound can travel). So i guess what I am looking for is some sort of equation to measure how sound dissipates?

Hi pmads! Welcome to PF! :smile:

Assuming there's nothing in the way, it's an inverse-square law … the sound is 100 times quieter if it's 10 times further away … but some frequencies travel better than others (I don't know the reasons for that).

But remember two things …

i] houses and so on in the way will lessen the noise (so will mist)

ii] decibels are a "logarithmic" scale, not a linear one …

10 dB mean 10 times as loud, 20 dB means 100 times as loud …

so 10 times further away means 20 dB,

100 times further away means 40 dB … :smile:
 

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