Sound Intensity Video Lessons

Concept

# Problem: A harvest mouse can detect sounds as quiet as -10 dB. Suppose you are sitting in a field on a very quiet day while a harvest mouse sits nearby at the entrance to its nest, a very gentle breeze causes a leaf 1.5 m from your head to rustle, generating a faint sound right at your ability to hear it. The sound of the rustling leaf is also right at the threshold of the mouse. How far is the harvest mouse from the leaf?

###### FREE Expert Solution

Intensity:

$\overline{){\mathbf{I}}{\mathbf{\left(}}{\mathbf{d}}{\mathbf{B}}{\mathbf{\right)}}{\mathbf{=}}{\mathbf{10}}{\mathbf{l}}{\mathbf{o}}{\mathbf{g}}{\mathbf{\left(}}\frac{\mathbf{I}}{{\mathbf{I}}_{\mathbf{0}}}{\mathbf{\right)}}}$

Sound intensity:

$\overline{){\mathbf{I}}{\mathbf{=}}\frac{\mathbf{P}}{\mathbf{A}}}$ where P is power and A is area.

The area from the source of sount is spherical.

A = 4πr2

82% (232 ratings)
###### Problem Details

A harvest mouse can detect sounds as quiet as -10 dB. Suppose you are sitting in a field on a very quiet day while a harvest mouse sits nearby at the entrance to its nest, a very gentle breeze causes a leaf 1.5 m from your head to rustle, generating a faint sound right at your ability to hear it. The sound of the rustling leaf is also right at the threshold of the mouse. How far is the harvest mouse from the leaf?

Frequently Asked Questions

What scientific concept do you need to know in order to solve this problem?

Our tutors have indicated that to solve this problem you will need to apply the Sound Intensity concept. You can view video lessons to learn Sound Intensity . Or if you need more Sound Intensity practice, you can also practice Sound Intensity practice problems.