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We convert that into the more popular decibel scale or dB scale. So, what's the quietest sound in the world? - Scientists at Orfield Labs, Minneapolis have found that by studying how subjects react in their anechoic chamber (also known as the world's quietest room) that the sound level in the room, which actually has the Guinness World Record, is -9 decibels, compared to the average "quiet" room's 30. Sound pressure level, or SPL, is a measurement of sound pressure that uses Pascals (Pa) as its unit of measurement. A-weighted decibels, or dBA, are often used when describing sound level recommendations for healthy listening. Conversely, if something makes a noise at 20 dB, it sounds ten times as quiet as. So if something makes a noise at 40 dB, it sounds ten times as loud as something that makes a noise at 30 dB. Basically, this means that for every 10 dB you see on the scale, there is a tenfold increase in sound level. Sometimes we use different versions of decibels. The decibel scale is a logarithmic scale. Their loudness ranges roughly from 240 dB to over 280 dB - only big volcanic eruptions are louder! Using the logarithmic decibel scale, if a sound is 80 decibels, and we add another 10 decibels, the sound will be ten times more intense, and will seem about twice as loud to our ears. Nuclear explosions are amongst the loudest phenomena on Earth. It was so loud that it ruptured eardrums of people 40 miles away, travelled around the world four times and was clearly heard 3,000 miles awayĪnd. The decibel scale is a bit strange because of the sensitivity of the human ear which can pick up everything from the sound of a fingertip brushing lightly over the skin to the sound of a loud jet engine - quite a difference! DBĭid you know - The world's loudest sound was the sound made by Krakatoa when it erupted in 1883. For instance, 40 dB is twice as loud as 30 dB, and half as loud as 50 dB. Discover the magic of the Decibel Scale, the key to measuring sound intensity. At volumes above 130dB, the sound is painfully loud. The decibel scale is measured on a range from 0 dB, which is the threshold of human hearing, to 140 dB and beyond. Logarithmic means that, for every 10 dB, the corresponding real-world volume doubles. This scale allows us to compare levels of sound that are vastly different in intensity. Upper 70s are annoyingly loud to some people. Relative means that dB is only a useful measurement when compared to other dB values. Living room music (76 dB) radio or TV-audio, vacuum cleaner (70 dB). The decibel (dB) is used to measure sound level. Passenger car at 65 mph at 25 ft (77 dB) freeway at 50 ft from pavement edge 10 a.m.