Deutsche Version

Dampingof sound level vs. distance

Distance law Distance damping Noise SPL
This is an approximation when the venue is a direct sound field or an anechoic chamer
!ow does the sound decrease with distance"
!ow can #ou calculate the distance drop of the sound"
Sound and noise propagation and the level damping.
Sound attenuation $dissipation% with distance.
There is no noise decrease or sound drop per meter.
We get a sound level drop of 6 dB per doubling of distance.
Sound power or sound power level has nothing
to do with the distance from the sound source.
Thin&ing helps' ( )** watt light ul has in ) m and in )* m
distance reall# alwa#s the same )** watts+ which is emitted
from the lamp all the time. ,atts don-t change with distance.
Changing(decrease) of sound pressure level L or sound pressure
with distance r in a free field (direct field), lie in anechoic chambers
Conversion! "istance values # dB level changing $ The %&r law for sound pressure
With sound level ususall' a level of a logarithmic ratio of sound pressure is meant
These calculations are meant onl' for sound engineers and the distance from point sources, lie musicians or
loudspeaers to a microphone in a direct field $ (o air damping and fre)uenc' dependenc' of e.g. the thunder in a
distance.
The term .loudness. or .volume. is a prolem ecause it elongs to ps#cho/
acoustics and this personal $su0ective% feeling is not correct to .measure..
Sound pressure level SPL depending on the distance
for point/shaped sound sources in the free field
Distance/related decrease of sound level
1nter the three gra# oxes and get the answer in the white ox.
Sound is here the sound level in decibels, no matter if it is the sound
pressure level or the sound intensit' level $ but not the sound power level.
Page 1 of 9 Sound level distance damping decibel dB damping calculation calculator distance vers...
2014-02-04 http:sengpielaudio.comcalculator-distance.htm
Calculation of the sound level L
2
, which is found at the distance r
2
3eference distance r
)
from sound source
1.00 m or ft
Sound level L
)
at reference distance r
)
60 dBS*+
Search for L
2
(nother distance r
2
from sound source
2.00 m or ft
Sound level L
2
at another distance r
2
dBS*+
Sound level difference
L 4 L
)
L
2
dB
calculate reset
Calculate the distance r
2
, where the sound level L
2
is to find.
Sound level L
)
at reference distance r
)
100 dBS*+
3eference distance r
)
from sound source
1.00 m or ft
Search for r
2
Sound level L
2
at another distance r
2
94 dBS*+
(nother distance r
2
from sound source
m or ft
Difference of distance
r 4 r
2
r
)
m or ft
calculate reset
,ormulas to calculate the sound level L in dB (sound pressure
level or sound intensit' level) in dependence of the distance r.
Sound pressure level $d5% = Sound intensit# level $d5%
Sound pressure is not Sound intensit#
-ften we tal onl' of sound level. .owever, sound pressure as a sound field
6uantit# is not the same as sound intensit' as a sound energ# 6uantit#.
+evels of sound pressure and levels of sound intensit' decrease e)uall' with the
distance from the sound source with 7 d5 per distance douling.
The sound pressure (amplitude) falls inversel' proportional to the distance )8r
from the sound source.
The sound intensit# (energ') falls inversel' proportional to the s)uare of the
distance )8r
2
from the sound source.
+evels of sound pressure and levels of sound intensit' decrease e)uall' with the
distance from the sound source. Sound power or sound power level has
nothing (/) to do with the distance from the sound source.
Thining helps! 0 %11 watt light bulb has in % m and in %1 m distance reall'
alwa's the same %11 watts, which is emitted from the lamp all the time.
Watts don2t change with distance.
We consider sound fields in air which are described b' the scalar )uantit' p
(sound pressure) and the vector )uantit' v (sound velocit') as a sound field
)uantit'.
The sound level will decrease # 7 d5 ever# time
Page 2 of 9 Sound level distance damping decibel dB damping calculation calculator distance vers...
2014-02-04 http:sengpielaudio.comcalculator-distance.htm
the source to the listener-s distance is douled.
9or calculations with sound intensities and sound pressures
that means without level $d5% go to .Sound and distance3.
The sound level depends on the distance etween the sound source and the
place of measurement+ possil# one ear of a su0ect.
The sound pressure level L
p
in d5 without the given distance r to the sound
source is reall# useless. :nfortunatel# this error $un&nown distance% is 6uite often.
0 doubling of distance from the sound source in the direct field will reduce the 3sound level3
b' (4)6 dB, no matter whether that are sound pressure levels or sound intensit' levels/ This
will reduce the sound pressure p (field si5e) to %&6 (71 8) and the sound intensit' I (energ'
si5e) to %&6
6
9 %&: (67 8) of the initial value.
The inverse distance law )8r shows the distance performance of field si;es and the
inverse s6uare law )8r
2
shows the distance performance of energ# si;es.
S6uared field si;es are proportional to energ# si;es< e.g. p
2
~ I
The sound pressure p changes $decrease / drop / fall% with )8r
over distance. Sound pressure level S*+ decreases b' $%7 d5 per doubling
of distance from the source to )82 $=* >% of the sound pressure initial value.
Sometimes it is said+ that the sound pressure would change with )8r?.
5ut that is reall# wrong.
Notice' ;ntensit' and power is not pressure of sound.
Sound energ' )uantit' cannot be sound field )uantit'.
!ow is the sound level dependent from the distance to the sound source"
The sound pressure level shows in the free field situation a reduction of 6 dB per
doubling of distance< that means the sound pressure value is a half and not a )uarter.
Statement of the distance law'
Distance law for field si;es $source si;es%
Sound level difference! +evel at far distance!
L 9 L
6
4 L
%
.
The sound pressure p decreases reall' with %&r from the sound source/
;n acoustics, the sound pressure of a spherical wave front radiating from
a point source decreases b' a ratio of %&6 as the distance is doubled.
The law is not inverse/s6uare, but is inverse$proportional!
p ~ ) 8 r
@alculating sound pressure with the inverse distance law
=elationship of sound intensit' I, sound pressure p and the distance law!
(r is the distance from the sound source) p ! % / r
Page " of 9 Sound level distance damping decibel dB damping calculation calculator distance vers...
2014-02-04 http:sengpielaudio.comcalculator-distance.htm
,rom this follows
Where!
p
%
9 sound pressure % at reference distance r
%
from the sound source
p
6
9 sound pressure 6 at another distance r
6
from the sound source
The sound pressure level L
p
to plot against
the distance of the sound source r
>ugelwelle 9 spherical waves
D! direct field of the spheric source
R! reflected field (diffuse field)
r
.
! critical distance
Note' The often used term 3intensit# of sound pressure3 is not correct.
?se 3magnitude3, 3strength3, 3amplitude3, or 3level3 instead.
3Sound intensit'3 is sound power (acoustic power) per unit area, while
3pressure3 is a measure of force per unit area. ;ntensit' (sound energ'
si5e) is not e)uivalent to pressure (sound field si5e). I ! p
6
Since the sound intensit' level is difficult to measure, it is common to
use sound pressure level measured in decibels instead. "oubling the
Sound *ressure raises the Sound *ressure +evel S*+ with 6 dB.
Damping of sound level in deciels with distance
Distance ratio
Computing the additional air damping b' air absorption in dependence on
the temperature the relative humidit' and the fre)uenc'< see! (ir damping
Decrease of soundlevel in d5 in the direct field with distance.
The sound level decreases with 6 dB per doubling the distance, no matter
if 'ou use the sound pressure level S*+ or the sound intensit' level S;+.
Page 4 of 9 Sound level distance damping decibel dB damping calculation calculator distance vers...
2014-02-04 http:sengpielaudio.comcalculator-distance.htm
But that does not wor for the sound power level which is emitted constantl'
from the sound source.
@onversion of sound units $levels%
,or this level damping of sound with distance we have to consider the damping of air
(air damping) at larger distances. See! (sorption of sound # the atmosphere
;t is often ased what formula we use for the calculation of air damping!
9ormula for calculating the damping of air.
Sound pressure level and Sound pressure
To use the calculator, simpl' enter a value.
The calculator wors in both directions of the A sign.
Sound pressure level L
p
0.0 dB$S*+
A
Sound pressure p
0.00002 *a 9 (&m
6
Standard reference sound pressure p
0
4 2* BPa 9 6 C %1
47
*a @ 1 dB
9ood for thought' ;f we feel a temperature of %7 degrees Celsius, we
consider the )uestion what is 3twice the temperature3 of it, as stupid. ;f
we hear a sound level of A1 dB, the )uestion how much is 3twice the
volume3 of it, is accepted without formection. -rB
Duestion' ;f toda' we have a temperature of %7 degrees Celsius now,
how warm would it be tomorrow, when it will be twice as hotB
(nswer' 1 degrees Celsius is 6CD degrees from absolute 5ero. That is
46CD degrees Celsius e)uivalent to absolute 5ero >elvin. Thus we now
have 6CD E %7 9 6AA degrees. Twice of it is 7C6 degrees above absolute
5ero of the temperature eFpected for tomorrow. -n the Celsius scale
7C6 4 6CD 9 D1D degrees Celsius. That2s might' hot/
Enverse distance law )/r for sound pressure
The law for sound field )uantities
The graphs shown are normali5ed
"istance
ratio
Sound pressure
p %&r
% %&% 9 %.1111
6 %&6 9 1.7111
D %&D 9 1.DDDD
: %&: 9 1.6711
7 %&7 9 1.6111
6 %&6 9 1.%66C
C %&C 9 1.%:6G
A %&A 9 1.%671
G %&G 9 1.%%%%
%1 %&%1 9 1.%111
Page # of 9 Sound level distance damping decibel dB damping calculation calculator distance vers...
2014-02-04 http:sengpielaudio.comcalculator-distance.htm
@onversions and @alculations / Sound si;es and their Levels
9re6uentl# used false statements in the context of
sound values and the distance of the sound source
,rong expression @orrect version
Sound pressure falls inversel' proportional
to the s)uare of the distance )8r
2
from the
sound source. wrong
Sound pressure falls inversel' proportional
to the distance )8r from the sound source.
That is the )8r law or distance law.
Sound pressure level decreases as the
distance increases per doubling of distance
from the source b' $%F d5. wrong
Sound pressure level decreases b' $%7 d5 per
doubling of distance from the source to )82 $=* >%
of the sound pressure initial value.
Sound intensit# (energ') falls inversel'
proportional to the distance )8r from the sound
source. wrong
Sound intensit# (energ') falls inversel' proportional
to the s)uare of the distance )8r
2
from the sound
source.
Sound intensit# level decreases inversel' as the
s)uare of the distance increases per doubling of
sound source with $%F d5 per doubling. wrong
Sound intensit# level decreases b' also $%7 d5 per
doubling of distance from the source to )8G $2= >%
of the sound intensit' initial value.
Sound pressure is not intensit#
Differentiate' Sound pressure p is a 3sound field si5e3 and
sound intensit' I is a 3sound energ# si5e3.
;n teachings these terms are not often separated sharpl'
enough and sometimes are even set e)ual. But I ~ p
6
.
@hanging of sound power with distance is nonsense
Huestion! .ow does the sound power decrease with distance3B 0nswer! 30pril
fool $ The sound power does not decrease (drop) with distance from the sound
source.3
+evels of sound pressure and levels of sound intensit' decrease e)uall' with the
distance from the sound source. Sound power or sound power level has
nothing (/) to do with the distance from the sound source.
Thining helps! 0 %11 watt light bulb has in % m and in %1 m distance reall'
alwa's the same %11 watts, which is emitted from the lamp all the time.
Page $ of 9 Sound level distance damping decibel dB damping calculation calculator distance vers...
2014-02-04 http:sengpielaudio.comcalculator-distance.htm
Watts don2t change with distance.
0 fre)uent )uestion! 3"oes the sound power depend on distanceB3 The clear
answer is! 3(o, not reall'.3
We consider sound fields in air which are described b' the scalar )uantit' p
(sound pressure) and the vector )uantit' v (sound velocit') as a sound field
)uantit'.
Sound pressure p and the inverse distance law )8r
!ow does an acoustic sound level depend on distance from the source"
Consider a source of sound and imagine a sphere with radius r, centred on the source.
The sound source outputs a total power P, continuousl'. The sound intensit' I is the
same ever'where on this surface of a thought sphere, b' definition. The intensit' I is
defined as the power P per unit area A. The surface area of the sphere is A 9 : r%, so
the sound intensit' passing through each s)uare meter of surface is, b' definition!
I & P / 4 r%.
We see that sound intensit' is inversel' proportional to the s)uare of the distance awa'.
I
6
/ I
%
9 r
%
I / r
6
I or I
6
9 I
%
'r
%
/ r
6
)I
But sound intensit' is proportional to the s)uare of the sound pressure, so we could
e)uall' write!
p
6
/ p
%
9 r
%
/ r
6
or p
6
9 p
%
(r
%
/ r
6
)
The sound pressure p changes with ) / r of the distance.
So+ if we doule the distance+ we reduce the sound pressure # a ratio of 2 and
the sound intensit# # a ratio of G. En other words+ we reduce the sound level #
7 d5. Ef we increase r # a ratio of )*+ we decrease the level # 2* d5.
The sound intensit# level and the sound pressure levels in d5 have the same
value+ ut the si;e of sound pressure and the si;e of acoustic intensit# is
different+ ecause I ~ p
2
.
!ow man# deciels $d5% level change is twice $doule+ half% or three times as loud"
The beginners )uestion is )uite simple! .ow does the sound decrease with distanceB
Jore specificall' ased! .ow does the volume (loudness) decrease with distanceB
.ow does the sound pressure decrease with distanceB
.ow does the sound intensit' (not the sound power) decrease with distanceB
The power (also the acoustic power) cannot decrease with distance.
Sound pressure and sound power
Page ( of 9 Sound level distance damping decibel dB damping calculation calculator distance vers...
2014-02-04 http:sengpielaudio.comcalculator-distance.htm
Decrease of sound pressure+ velocit#+ and intensit# of the sound field
near to and distant from a spherical radiator of the ;eroth order
,or a spherical wave of a point source we get!
The sound pressure level (S*+) decreases with doubling of distance b' (4)6 dB.
The sound pressure falls to %&6 times (718) of the initial value of the sound pressure.
The sound pressure decreases with the ratio %&r to the distance.
,or a spherical wave of a point source we get!
The sound intensit# level decreases with doubling of distance also b' (4)6 dB.
The intensit' falls to %&: times (678) of the initial value of the sound intensit'.
The sound intensit' decreases with the ratio %/r
6
to the distance.
,or a c#lindrical wave that is a line source we get!
The sound pressure level (S*+) decreases with doubling of distance onl' b' (4)D dB.
The sound pressure falls to 1.C1C times (C1.C8) of the initial value of the sound
pressure.
The sound pressure decreases with the ratio %/Kr to the distance.
H% 0 loudspeaer line arra' operates according to this principle, but taes account of
the finite length of the arra'. Therefore the sound pressure level (S*+) (/) of the low
fre)uencies decrease (4)6 dB sphericall' with doubling of the distance.
,or a c#lindrical wave that is a line source we get!
The sound intensit# level decreases with doubling of distance also b' (4)D dB.
The intensit' falls to %&6 times (718) of the initial value of the sound intensit'.
The sound intensit' decreases with a ratio %/r to the distance.
The emitted acoustic power does not decrease with the doubling of distance.
0 lamp with the power of %11 watts has in % m or in %1 m distance still the same watts.
Enverse distance law
p
6
& p
%
9 (r
%
& r
6
)
+et us tae a loo at a practical application of this formula! if r
%
9 % m and at this
distance from the sound source we measure L
p%
9 %11 dB at a distance of r
6
9 6 m we
will have a sound pressure e)ual to! L
p6
9 L
p%
L 61 M lg (r
6
& r
%
)
(pplication of the inverse distance formula
L
p6
9 %11 4 61 M lg (6 & %) 9 %11 4 6.16 9 G: dB
S*+
. ,rom this simple eFample we
obtain an eas', useful rule! ever' time we move awa' from a sound source, doubling
our distance from it, the sound pressure level decreases b' 6 dB
S*+
. Nice versa if we
move closer to the sound source, halving our distance from it, we perceive an increase
in sound pressure of approFimatel' 6 dB
S*+
.
This rule is called the inverse distance law.
Page ) of 9 Sound level distance damping decibel dB damping calculation calculator distance vers...
2014-02-04 http:sengpielaudio.comcalculator-distance.htm
Duestion' What is the standard distance to measure sound pressure level awa' from e)uipmentB
There is no standard distance. ;t depends on the si5e of the sound source and the sound pressure level.
Wh' do some engineers want to use constantl' the impractical sound energ' si5es,
such as sound intensit' and sound power with the reference sound si5e I
1
9 %1
4%6
W&mI
or P
1
9 %1
4%6
W, when appl'ing the human earB ,or noise control calculations that is all right.
Note' The sound pressure level (sound field si5e) is not to be confused with the sound
power level (sound energ' si5e). The dB values for sound pressure levels are alwa's
tied to the distance to the sound source, whereas the dB values of the sound power
level, logicall' have no relation to the distance from the sound source. The emitted
sound power of a sound source is independent of location and room independent. ;t is
the same for all distances from the source. The sound pressure of a sound source is a
function of location and room$dependent. ;t varies with the distance from the sound
source.
!ow does the sound decrease with distance"
Sound pressure and sound intensit#
The term loudness or volume should here not e
used ecause it is a ps#cho/acoustic sensation.
The constant unsureness is the answer to the 6uestion'
.!ow man# deciels $d5% are douling a sound." or .,hat is twice the sound".
(nswer' "oubling means the 3factor 63. What does doubling of a 3sound3 meanB
"oubling the (sound) intensit' is obtained b' an increase of the (sound intensit') level of F d5.
"oubling the sound pressure is obtained b' an increase of the (sound pressure) level of 7 d5.
"oubling the loudness feeling is obtained b' an increase of the (loudness) level of about )* d5.
Simple rule of thumb!
When woring with power, D dB means douple (twice) the factor and %1 dB means %1$fold.
When woring with voltage or current, 6 dB means double (twice) the factor and 61 dB means %1$fold.
;n audio, electronics and acoustics use onl' the word 3damping3 and not the wrong word 3dampening3.
.damping. means'
%. a decreasing of the amplitude of an electrical or mechanical wave.
6. an energ'$absorbing mechanism or resistance circuit causing this decrease.
D. a reduction in the amplitude of an oscillation or vibration as a result of energ' being dissipated as heat.
.dampening. means'
%. To mae damp.
6. To deaden, restrain, or depress.
D. To soundproof.
Notice' Damping is energ# dissipation and dampening is ma&ing something wet.
ac& Search 1ngine home
Page 9 of 9 Sound level distance damping decibel dB damping calculation calculator distance vers...
2014-02-04 http:sengpielaudio.comcalculator-distance.htm