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Physics of the ear (A-level only)

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Question 10

Three audio technicians, A, B, and C, are testing sound equipment at an outdoor music festival.

1.

Technician A is initially at a distance of 15.0 m15.0\text{ m}15.0 m from a loudspeaker, where the sound intensity is measured to be 8.0×10−8 W m−28.0 \times 10^{-8}\text{ W m}^{-2}8.0×10−8 W m−2. Technician A then moves to a distance of 25.0 m25.0\text{ m}25.0 m from the loudspeaker. Calculate the sound intensity at this new position. Assume that the loudspeaker behaves as a point source.

[3]
2.

The sound intensity level is 83 dB83\text{ dB}83 dB at the position of technician B and 58 dB58\text{ dB}58 dB at the position of technician C. Calculate the ratio sound intensity at the position of Bsound intensity at the position of C\frac{\text{sound intensity at the position of B}}{\text{sound intensity at the position of C}}sound intensity at the position of Csound intensity at the position of B​.

[3]
3.

Technician B perceives the loudness of the sound differently than technician C. Discuss whether the use of intensity level or intensity is more appropriate to compare their perceived loudness.

[2]
4.

All three technicians then move to a control cabin, positioning themselves at the same distance from a reference speaker playing music.

  • Technician A is 72 years old and has hearing loss due to age.
  • Technician B is 29 years old and has hearing loss due to working for years near loud industrial drilling rigs without hearing protection.
  • Technician C is 29 years old and has healthy hearing with no defects.

Describe how the perceptions of the music by A and B differ from that of C.

[4]

Physics of the ear (A-level only) Questions

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