What is the Power Output of a Bird's Song?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the power output of a bird's song based on the intensity of sound heard by two listeners at different distances from the bird. The context is related to sound intensity and power, with a focus on the physics of sound propagation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the relationship between intensity and power but questions their approach after not arriving at the expected answer. Participants suggest considering the bird as a point source and the geometry of sound propagation, specifically the surface area of a sphere.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing guidance on the correct geometric considerations for sound intensity. There is recognition of the need to use the surface area of a sphere rather than a circle, indicating a productive direction in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The original poster expresses confusion regarding the calculations and the relationship between the two parts of the problem. There is an indication of a misunderstanding related to the formulas used for calculating power and intensity.

PHYclueless
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Hello. I was hoping someone could give me a direction to go with this homework problem. I'm having trouble trying to figure it out. Here's the question:

Two people relaxing outdoors listen to a bird sing. One person, only 1.00m from the bird, hears the sound with an intesity of 2.80x10^-6 W/m^2. (a) What is the power output of the bird's song? (b) What intensity is heard by a second person, which is 4.25m from the bird?

The answer I get doesn't correlate with the correct answer given. This is what I did for the first part. I can't solve the second part w/o the correct power from the first.

Intensity=Power/Area
P=IA
P=2.80x10^-6(1m) = 2.80x10^-6

Can anyone give me a clue of another direction to go? The answer for part (a) is 3.52x10^-5.

Thank you! :confused:
 
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Consider the bird as a point source of sound emanating in all directions. At a distance of 1 m, how much area does the sound cover?
 
Thank you so much for your help. So basically I need to use pi(r^2) and r would =.5m.

I have two more questions but will post them seperatly as they relate to thermal processes and heat as it relates to energy.

Thanks again for your help.
 
Not at all ... the BIRD is in the CENTER of a sphere of sound (it is emitting),
the listener is at the EDGE of the sphere (at one wave front).
The Power from the bird into sound waves , from 1/340 second ago ,
has spread to cover the entire surface of the sphere.

Did you draw a diagram of this situation?
 
PHYclueless said:
Thank you so much for your help. So basically I need to use pi(r^2) and r would =.5m.

No. What is the formula for surface area of a sphere ?
 
Got it! Thank you. I was thinking of it as an area of a circle instead of a sphere and after you said that it made me realize I needed to use a different formula. I=Pav/4(pi)(r^2).

Thanks to you both :). Appreciate it.
 

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