Extremes in Sound
What is the loudest sound you have ever heard? You may be thinking of a shotgun blast, screeching feedback from a sound system, a siren, a heavy metal band, or fireworks. Sound is measured by its level of intensity in units called decibels. A normal voice in conversation is around 60 decibels (dBs) a vacuum cleaner 70 dBs, a garbage disposal 80, a lawn mower 90, a snowmobile or a dog’s bark 100, a concert or sporting event 110, a car horn or emergency siren 120, a fire alarm or jackhammer 130, fireworks or a shotgun discharge 140 dBs.
