Two sounds differ by 20 dB. This means that the louder sound is _____ times as intense and _____ times as loud.
A) 20; 20
B) 100; 20
C) 20; 4
D) 100; 4
E) 2; 2

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The intensity of a sound is proportional to the square of its amplitude. Therefore, a sound that is 20 dB louder than another sound has an amplitude that is 10 times greater. The loudness of a sound is proportional to the logarithm of its intensity. Therefore, a sound that is 20 dB louder than another sound is 20 times as loud.

Two Sounds Differ by 20 DB