The loudness level of a sound, D, in decibels, is given by the formula D 10 log(10 12 I), where I is the intensity of the sound, in watts per meter 2 Decibel levels range from 0, a barely audible sound, to 160, a sound resulting in a ruptured eardrum (Any exposure to sounds of 130 decibels or highe...

The loudness level of a sound, D, in decibels, is given by the formula D = 10

Question:

The loudness level of a sound, D, in decibels, is given by the formula D = 10 log(10¹²I), where I is the intensity of the sound, in watts per meter². Decibel levels range from 0, a barely audible sound, to 160, a sound resulting in a ruptured eardrum. (Any exposure to sounds of 130 decibels or higher puts a person at immediate risk for hearing damage.) Use the formula to solve Exercises 117–118.

The sound of a blue whale can be heard 500 miles away, reaching an intensity of 6.3 × 10⁶ watts per meter². Determine the decibel level of this sound. At close range, can the sound of a blue whale rupture the human eardrum?

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