Definition of Sound intensity
Sound intensity, also known as acoustic intensity, is defined as the power carried by sound waves per unit area in a direction perpendicular to that area, also called the sound power density and the sound energy flux density. The SI unit of intensity, which includes sound intensity, is the watt per square meter (W/m2). One application is the noise measurement of sound intensity in the air at a listener's location as a sound energy quantity.
Sound intensity is not the same physical quantity as sound pressure. Human hearing is sensitive to sound pressure which is related to sound intensity. In consumer audio electronics, the level differences are called "intensity" differences, but sound intensity is a specifically defined quantity and cannot be sensed by a simple microphone.
Sound intensity level is a logarithmic expression of sound intensity relative to a reference intensity.
Terms mentioned above
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Questions people ask
Real questions from the Stack Exchange community – follow a link to read the discussion.
- How to make LED bar graphs to measure intensity · Electronics SE
- Which is the loudest in terms of sound intensity - Sine, Square or Sawtooth waveform? · Electronics SE
Further reading
- Ultrasonic Intensity · Wikibooks: Acoustics
Frequently asked questions
What is Sound intensity?
Sound intensity, also known as acoustic intensity, is defined as the power carried by sound waves per unit area in a direction perpendicular to that area, also called the sound power density and the sound energy flux density.