How To Calculate Decibels

d
# B

(

10
×

log

10

(

(

Energy Released by Object 1
Energy Released by Reference Object

)

(

Distance to Object 1
Distance to Reference Object

)

2

)

)

Decibels from Reference Object

{\displaystyle dB=\left(10\times {\text{log}}\_{10}\left({\frac {\left({\frac {\text{Energy Released by Object 1}}{\text{Energy Released by Reference Object}}}\right)}{\left({\frac {\text{Distance to Object 1}}{\text{Distance to Reference Object}}}\right)^{2}}}\right)\right)+{\text{Decibels from Reference Object}}}

(at a distance to the Reference Object)

The Reference Object is to compare against Object 1 (If you're trying to find out how loud in decibels is Object 1)

Rule: Adding 1 to a
d
B
 rating will make the sound intensity multiply by

10

0.1

.

{\displaystyle \text{Rule: Adding 1 to a }dB \text{ rating will make the sound intensity multiply by } 10^{0.1} \text{.}}

Rule: Adding 0.1 to a
d
B
 rating will make the sound intensity multiply by

10

0.01

.

{\displaystyle \text{Rule: Adding 0.1 to a }dB \text{ rating will make the sound intensity multiply by } 10^{0.01} \text{.}}

Rule: Adding 0.01 to a
d
B
 rating will make the sound intensity multiply by

10

0.001

.

{\displaystyle \text{Rule: Adding 0.01 to a }dB \text{ rating will make the sound intensity multiply by } 10^{0.001} \text{.}}

Examples:

108 dB
 is about 2 times louder than 105 dB
.

{\displaystyle \text{108 dB} \text{ is about 2 times louder than 105 dB}. }

170 dB is about 63000 times louder than 122 dB, which is about 40 times as loud as 106 dB.

{\displaystyle \text{170 dB is about 63000 times louder than 122 dB, which is about 40 times as loud as 106 dB.}}

282 dB is about 2 quadrillion times louder than the loudest human scream, 129 dB.

{\displaystyle \text{282 dB is about 2 quadrillion times louder than the loudest human scream, 129 dB.}}

310 dB is the loudest sound ever witnessed by humans. It was created by the Krakatoa volcano.

{\displaystyle \text{310 dB is the loudest sound ever witnessed by humans. It was created by the Krakatoa volcano.}}

(It certainly isn't the loudest sound ever, since there are sounds far beyond Earth, and most of them might be louder than Krakatoa)

314 dB is the sound you will hear from an average supernova 1 AU away.

{\displaystyle \text{314 dB is the sound you will hear from an average supernova 1 AU away.}}

(if you could hear it)

1 AU is the distance between the Earth and the Sun which is about 150 million kilometers.

In order for you to hear sound in space, you need air molecules for the sound waves to vibrate over and travel.

In the next few scenarios, let's pretend that there are air molecules in space.

115 dB - 120 dB is the sound level from an extremely loud speaker set.

{\displaystyle \text{115 dB - 120 dB is the sound level from an extremely loud speaker set.}}

126 dB is the sound level of the loudest bluetooth speaker in the world.

{\displaystyle \text{126 dB is the sound level of the loudest bluetooth speaker in the world.}}

It is about 12.5 times louder than a typical speaker set.

340 dB is probably the sound level created by the Chicxulub Impactor.

{\displaystyle \text{340 dB is probably the sound level created by the Chicxulub Impactor.}}

The Chicxulub impact was about 1000 times louder than the Krakatoa volcano.

345 dB - 360 dB was probably the sound level created by the Vredefort Impactor.

{\displaystyle \text{345 dB - 360 dB was probably the sound level created by the Vredefort Impactor.}}

460 dB might have been the sound level created by Theia colliding with Earth.

{\displaystyle \text{460 dB might have been the sound level created by Theia colliding with Earth.}}

580 dB is probably the peak sound level of a supernova.

{\displaystyle \text{580 dB is probably the peak sound level of a supernova.}}

A powerful hypernova is around 590 dB - 600 dB.

{\displaystyle \text{A powerful hypernova is around 590 dB - 600 dB.}}

A ultranova produces at least 650 dB - 700 dB.

{\displaystyle \text{A ultranova produces at least 650 dB - 700 dB.}}

The Big Bang was at least 820 dB - 830 dB at peak sound.

{\displaystyle \text{The Big Bang was at least 820 dB - 830 dB at peak sound.}}

This is about 100 sextillion times louder than a supernova.

The multiverse might have produced 1000 dB - 1500 dB when it formed.

{\displaystyle \text{The multiverse might have produced 1000 dB - 1500 dB when it formed.}}