Decibel: The ear has the remarkable ability

The ear has the remarkable ability to handle an enormous range of sound levels. The effects of noise on hearing vary among people. Some people’s ears are more sensitive to loud sounds, To express levels of sound meaningfully in numbers that are more manageable, a logarithmic scale is used, rather than a linear one. This scale is the decibel scale. A noise level chart showing examples of sounds with dB levels ranging from 0 to 180 decibels. As a frame of reference, here are the decibel ... The deciBel uses the base ten logarithms, i.e. those commonly used within mathematics. By using a logarithmic scale, the deciBel is able to compare quantities that may have vast ratios between them. The deciBel, dB or deci-Bel is actually a tenth of a Bel - the Bel is a unit that is seldom used. Decibel Metre A decibel metre is a measuring device that measures sound pressure and is used to determine loudness or sound levels. A sound level metre, also known as a sound pressure level (SPL) metre, decibel (dB) metre, noise metre, or noise dosimeter, records sound using a microphone. A decibel (dB) is a unit for expressing the ratio between two amounts of electric or acoustic power or for measuring the relative loudness of sounds.