Acoustics & Decibels: Sound Levels, Adding Sources & Noise Exposure
Work with sound the way acousticians do: sound pressure level with 20·LOG10(p/p₀), adding sources the energy way and removing background noise, −6 dB per doubling of distance with a chart, daily noise dose with Leq and LEX,8h, permissible exposure times under the 3 dB and 5 dB exchange rates, Sabine reverberation time, absorption upgrades and the wavelength of sound – 8 labs for one fictional acoustics consultancy, every cell checked instantly. Educational only: exposure limits are cited in general terms, check the rules that apply to you.
The first lesson is free — no account needed.
About this course
An acoustics and decibels course that works through the jobs of one fictional acoustics consultancy in a spreadsheet, for physics and engineering students, occupational health and safety staff, sound engineers and anyone who needs to read a noise report. You turn RMS sound pressures into decibels with 20·LOG10(p/p₀), add machine levels the energy way and subtract background noise, chart how a level falls with distance for point and line sources, time-weight a shift into Leq and the 8-hour exposure LEX,8h, calculate permissible exposure times under the 3 dB and 5 dB exchange rates and a daily dose, calculate a music room's reverberation time with the Sabine formula, compare acoustic treatments against a 0.8 s target and convert frequencies into wavelengths. Exposure limits are cited in general terms, so check the rules that apply where you work. Educational only. The first lab is free.
Lessons
- Sound Pressure Level: From Pascals to DecibelsFree
- Adding Sound Sources: Why 85 dB + 85 dB Is 88 dB Pro
- Distance Attenuation: −6 dB per Doubling Pro
- Daily Noise Exposure: Leq and LEX,8h Pro
- Permissible Exposure Time: 3 dB vs 5 dB Exchange Rate Pro
- Room Acoustics: Reverberation Time with Sabine Pro
- Absorption Upgrades: Shorter Reverberation, Quieter Rooms Pro
- Frequency & Wavelength of Sound Pro