Question

The sound level of a person talking at 1.0 m of distance is 60 dB. You are surrounded by five people all talking at the same time. What sound level are you being exposed to? The sound level of a person talking at 1.0 m of distance is 60 dB. You are surrounded by five people all talking at the same time. What sound level are you being exposed to?
a. 60 dB
b. 600 dB
c. 81 dB
d. 67 dB
e. 74 dB

Answer 1

To solve this problem it is necessary to apply the concepts related to the intensity of the sound level, which is defined by

$\beta = 10log\frac{I}{I_0}$

Where,

$I_ 0$ = Reference Intensity $(10^{-12}W/m^2)$

I = Intensity

Our values are given as,

$\beta_{1person}=60dB$

And if you are surrounded by 5 other people talking at the reference intensity, then we will have to,

$I = 5I_0$

Then in decibels the sound level will be,

$\beta_{Total} = 60dB + 10log(\frac{5I_0}{I_0})$

$\beta_{Total} = 60dB + 10log(5)$

$\beta_{Total} = 60dB + 10*0.7$

$\beta_{Total} = 60dB + 7$

$\beta_{Total} = 67dB$

Therefore the correct answer is D.