How is intensity measured in acoustics?

Intensity in acoustics is measured in decibels (dB), which quantifies the power level of sound relative to a reference level. The decibel scale is logarithmic, meaning that each increase of 10 dB represents a tenfold increase in intensity. This measurement allows for practical representation of the wide range of sound intensities that the human ear can perceive—from the soft sounds to very loud noises, which can vary by many orders of magnitude.

Other units like Hertz (Hz) measure frequency, specifically the number of cycles per second of a sound wave, but do not convey information about intensity. Pascals (Pa) are used to measure sound pressure levels rather than intensity directly. Meters (m) measure distance and are not applicable to sound intensity measurements. Understanding that intensity is specifically tied to the decibel scale is key to interpreting and working with sound levels effectively.