If I increase the volume on my stereo by 10 dB, from 60 dB to 70 dB, my family will probably perceive the loudness of the music as
A) 10 times louder than before.
B) 100 times louder than before.
C) 2 times louder than before.
D) about the same as before.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Perception of loudness is not a linear relationship with sound intensity measured in decibels (dB). Here, increasing the volume by 10 dB means doubling the sound intensity. However, a perceived doubling in loudness requires an increase in sound intensity by a factor of 10. Therefore, increasing the volume by 10 dB would make the music seem about 2 times louder than before.

If I Increase the Volume on My Stereo by 10