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Logarithms and Decibels

The decibel (dB) scale is used to measure sound intensity and power levels on a logarithmic scale. A dB represents the ratio between two power levels or intensities. Common applications of dB include measuring sound pressure levels (SPL) and power levels (PWL). SPL uses the reference level of 20 micropascals at 1000 Hz, while PWL uses 1 picowatt as 0 dB. Calculating dB involves taking the base-10 logarithm of the ratio between the measured level and reference level, multiplied by either 10 or 20 depending on if it is power or intensity. This logarithmic scale allows vast

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annalyn soria
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106 views

Logarithms and Decibels

The decibel (dB) scale is used to measure sound intensity and power levels on a logarithmic scale. A dB represents the ratio between two power levels or intensities. Common applications of dB include measuring sound pressure levels (SPL) and power levels (PWL). SPL uses the reference level of 20 micropascals at 1000 Hz, while PWL uses 1 picowatt as 0 dB. Calculating dB involves taking the base-10 logarithm of the ratio between the measured level and reference level, multiplied by either 10 or 20 depending on if it is power or intensity. This logarithmic scale allows vast

Uploaded by

annalyn soria
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Logarithms and

Decibels
Engr. Annalyn D. Soria
Instructor
The Decibel (dB)
• Named for Alexander Graham Bell.
• Originally used to measure power losses in telephone lines.
• A Bel is the common log of the ratio of two power levels.
• A decibel is one-tenth of a bel.
• A Bel is not a unit of anything – but simply a logarithmic ratio of two
power levels.
• dB is a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of
an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic
scale. In general use, it is a degree of loudness.
• A sound's loudness is measured in decibels (dB). Normal conversation
is about 60 dB, a lawn mower is about 90 dB, and a loud rock concert
is about 120 dB. As loudness increases, the amount of time you can
hear the sound before damage occurs decreases.
• Logarithm
• A logarithm is an exponent, but is stated differently.
Example: 53=125
5 is the base, 3 is the exponent.
This is exponential form.
• Logarithmic form is when we say:
The log (to the base 5) of 125 is 3.
Base 10
• In computation the base 10 is used for logarithms.
• It is so convenient and common that it is not usually written as a
subscript but is understood if no base is shown.
• This is similar to scientific notation where very large or small numbers
are expressed as X 10 to an exponent value.
For example 93000000 = 93 x106
Logarithms = Convenience
• Comparing sounds at the threshold of hearing to sounds at the
threshold of pain represents over a million fold difference in pressure
levels.
• The dB as a logarithmic measure of ratios fits well with our perceived
loudness of sound intensity.
• Logarithms are used to help us condense the huge range of SPL
(sound power level) humans perceive into a manageable scale.
dB SPL (sound power level)
• Sound Pressure Level (SPL) is a dB scale defined relative to a reference
that is approximately the intensity of a 1000 Hz sinusoid that is just
barely audible
Range of Human Hearing
Formula for dB SPL measurements
The formula for SPL: 20 log (p/p0)
where: P0 is the reference of 20 micropascals (threshold of
hearing).
P = the pressure level of the sound we are comparing to
the reference level.
Any sound pressure can be expressed as dB SPL by comparing the
sound pressure to the 0 dB (threshold of hearing) reference point with
the 20 log formula.
Example: how many dB SPL is a sound that is 50 μ Pa?
dB SPL = 20 log (50μPa/20μPa)
dB SPL = 20 log (2.5 Pa)
dB SPL = 20 (.39794)
dB SPL = 7.96
Using dBs to compare two SPL levels
Example: Find the dB difference between 1000μPa and
100μPa.
dB = 20 log (1000μPa/100μPa)
dB = 20 log (10Pa)
dB = 20 (1)
dB difference = 20
dB SPL as a Function of Distance
SPL changes with the square of distance, meaning that:
 Doubling the distance results in a drop of 6 dB SPL.
 Halving the distance results in a 6 dB SPL increase.

dB PWL
• PWL or Lw (sound power level) is the total sound power emitted by a source in
all directions. Like electrical power, PWL is measured in watts.
Formula: dB PWL = 10 log (W/W0)
where W0 is one picowatt (10-12 watt).
Rule of thumb: doubling sound pressure results in a 6 dB increase, whereas
doubling the sound power level results in a 3 dB increase.
• Any sound power level can be expressed in dB PWL by comparing it to
the 0 dB PWL reference point of 1pW.
• We can express the difference between any two sound power levels
(including electrical power) by using the 10 log formula.

Example: How many dB PWL is 4pW?


dB PWL = 10 log (4pW/1pW)
dB PWL = 10 log (4)
dB PWL = 10 (.60206)
dB PWL = 6.02
Example: What is the dB difference between a 100-watt and 350-watt
amplifier?
dB = 10 log (100/350)
dB = 10 log (.2857143)
dB = 10 (-0.544068)
dB = -5.44
• The 100 watt amp is 5.44 dB less than the 350 watt amp (or we could
say the 350 watt amp is 5.44 dB greater than the 100 watt amp).
The dB in Electronics
• Power: dBm (0 dBm = 1milliwatt into a 600 ohm load), 0dBW =1 watt
into a 600 ohm load.
• dBm Power Formula: 10 log (p1/.001W)
• dBW Power Formula: 10 log (p1/1W)
• Voltage: dBu (0 dBu = .775 volts) not referenced to any load - chosen
for historical reasons which is the voltage you get with 1mW in a 600
ohm load.
• dBu Voltage Formula: 20 log (E1/.775V)
• dBV Voltage Formula: 20 log (E1/1V)
dB differences in power levels
• Any power level can be expressed as dBm or dBW.
• dBm and dBW both use the 10 log formula, however dBm uses 1mW
for the 0 dB reference point; dBW uses 1W for the 0 dB reference
point.
Example: How many dBm is a signal that measures 4 mW?
dBm = 10 log (4mW/1mW)
dBm = 10 log (4)
dBm = 10 (.60206)
dBm = 6.02
How many dBW is a signal that measures 5W?
dBW = 10 log (5W/1W)
dBW = 10 log (5)
dBW = 10 (.69897)
dBW = 6.9897
Calculating dB differences in power levels
• We can express the difference between any 2 power levels as dB (no suffix)
by using the 10 log formula. We simply write the 2 voltages as a ratio.
Example: What’s the dB difference between 10 watts and 15 watts?
dB = 10 log (10/15)
dB = 10 log (.66667)
dB = 10 (-0.1760913)
dB = -1.76, so 10W is 1.7609 dB less than 15W
dB differences in voltage levels
• Any voltage level can be expressed as dBu or dBV.
• dBu and dBV both use the 20 log formula, however dBu uses .775V
for the 0 dB reference point; dBV uses 1V for the 0 dB reference point.
Example: How many dBu is a signal that measures 2 volts?
dBu = 20 log (2V/.775V)
dBu = 20 log (2.5806452)
dBu = 20 (.4117283)
dBu = 8.235
Example: How many dBV is a signal that measures 2 volts?
dBV = 20 log (2V/1V)
dBV = 20 log (2)
dBV = 20 (.30103)
dBV = 6.02
Calculating dB differences in voltage
We can express the difference between any 2 voltage levels as dB (no suffix)
by using the 20 log formula. We simply write the 2 voltages as a ratio.
Example: What’s the dB difference between 5 volts and 10 volts?
dB = 20 log (5/10)
dB = 20 log (.5)
dB = 20 (-.30103)
dB = -6.02, so 5V is 6.02 less than 10V
Assignment
Kindly do the assignment on page 11 of the module. To be submitted
next meeting.

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