A copy machine in a nearby room emits a sound with an intensity level of 40 dB. If four identical copy machines were operating together, what would be the intensity level of the resulting sound?

Answer 1

To calculate the resulting intensity level of four copy machines operating together, we need to use the formula for adding the decibel levels of multiple sound sources:

Lp1 + Lp2 = 10 * log10 (10^(Lp1/10) + 10^(Lp2/10))

Using this formula, we can calculate the resulting intensity level of four copy machines operating together:

Each copy machine has an intensity level of 40 dB. So, using the formula above:

40 dB + 40 dB = 10 * log10 (10^(40/10) + 10^(40/10))
= 10 * log10 (10^4 + 10^4)
= 10 * log10 (10000 + 10000)
= 10 * log10 (20000)
= 10 * 4.3010
= 43.010

Therefore, the resulting intensity level of four copy machines operating together would be approximately 43.010 dB.