Sound Power Question: How Much Energy Is Needed?

[markiemoo]

Hi Guys,

I know that sound power can be measured in watts. For example a Jackhammer is around 120db which would produce a watt of electricity.

My question is, if I wished to artificially create a sound at the same db would you have to put in as much energy?

For example... if a rocket engine at 180db produced a potential of a million watts, if I wanted to artificially create this decibal volume would a million watts of energy have to be put into it to generate it?

Thanks guys!

 

[Antiphon]

Yes, and more. You can't create sound with 100% efficiency, so you'll need more. The jackhammer makes heat and breaks rocks while it makes sound so it may require dozens or hundreds of watts to make one watt of sound.

 

[markiemoo]

What if the sound is produced virtually? computer-generated and put through a speaker big enough to artificially create the sound power of 180db? would that be using more power output?

To my mind, to do it the way I just put it wouldn't need a million watts or more to generate the sound power of 180db.

 

[cjl]

No speakers are 100% efficient, so if you want to make a million watts of sound power, you need at least a million watts of input.

 

[markiemoo]

Thanks very much for the information guys! very useful :)

on a final note, in which way must things be 100% efficient?