Sound intensity

Sound measurements
Sound measurements
Characteristic	Symbols
Sound pressure	p, SPL, LPA
Particle velocity	v, SVL
Particle displacement	δ
Sound intensity	I, SIL
Sound power	P, SWL, LWA
Sound energy	W
Sound energy density	w
Sound exposure	E, SEL
Acoustic impedance	Z
Audio frequency	AF
Transmission loss	TL
	v; t; e;

Sound intensity, also known as acoustic intensity, is defined as the power carried by sound waves per unit area in a direction perpendicular to that area. The SI unit of intensity, which includes sound intensity, is the watt per square meter (W/m²). One application is the noise measurement of sound intensity in the air at a listener's location as a sound energy quantity.^[1]

Sound intensity is not the same physical quantity as sound pressure. Human hearing is sensitive to sound pressure which is related to sound intensity. In consumer audio electronics, the level differences are called "intensity" differences, but sound intensity is a specifically defined quantity and cannot be sensed by a simple microphone.

Sound intensity level is a logarithmic expression of sound intensity relative to a reference intensity.

^ "Sound Intensity". Retrieved 22 April 2015.

[“GeorgiaStateUniversity-1] "Sound Intensity". Retrieved 22 April 2015.

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