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24.1 Decibel Scale
24.1
The loudness of sound is measured in decibels (dB). Most sounds fall between zero and 100 on the decibel scale
making it a very convenient scale to understand and use. Each increase of 20 decibels (dB) for a sound will be
about twice as loud to your ears. Use the following table to help you answer the questions.
10-15 dB
30-40 dB
65 dB
70 dB
90 dB
100 dB
110 dB
120 dB
A quiet whisper 3 feet away
Background noise in a house
Ordinary conversation 3 feet away
City traffic
A jackhammer cutting up the street 10 feet away )1