Optics & Waves
Intermediate

Sound Intensity Level

Loudness in decibels relative to threshold.

Formula

β=10log⁡10II0\beta = 10\log_{10}\frac{I}{I_0}

Variables

IIntensity
I_0Reference (1e-12 W/m²)

Did You Know?

The decibel scale is logarithmic, so a 10 dB rise is actually ten times the sound intensity.

sounddecibelintensity