The 140-decibel sound of a rock band at close range is ________ times more intense than the 100-decibel sound of a nearby subway train.
A) 10
B) 30
C) 100
D) 1000

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The decibel scale is logarithmic, which means that every increase of 10 decibels represents a sound that is 10 times more intense. Therefore, the difference between 100 decibels and 140 decibels is a difference of 40 decibels, which represents a sound that is 10 to the 4th power (10,000) times more intense. Thus, the correct answer is D) 1000.

The 140-Decibel Sound of a Rock Band at Close Range