Sound intensity level

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sound measurements
Sound pressure p
Sound pressure level (SPL)
Particle velocity v
Particle velocity level (SVL)
   (Sound velocity level)
Particle displacement ξ
Sound intensity I
Sound intensity level (SIL)
Sound power Pac
Sound power level (SWL)
Sound energy density E
Sound energy flux q
Acoustic impedance Z
Speed of sound c


Sound intensity level or acoustic intensity level is a logarithmic measure of the sound intensity in comparison to the reference level of 0 dB (decibels).

The measure of a ratio of two sound intensities is

L_\mathrm{J}=10\, \log_{10}\left(\frac{J_1}{J_0}\right)\ \mathrm{dB}

where J1 and J0 are the intensities.

The sound intensity level is given the letter "LJ" and is measured in "dB". dB is dimensionless.

If J0 is the standard reference sound intensity, where

J_0 = 10^{-12} \, \frac{\mathrm{W}}{\mathrm{m}^2}

(W = watt), then instead of "dB" we use "dB SIL". (SIL = sound intensity level).

[edit] External links

In other languages