Question

One of the loudest sounds ever recorded was of a Saturn V rocket launch. The sound energy output of the rocket launch was 252 MJ every second.

a) What is the sound level (in dB) 100 m away from the launch?

Air absorbs about 7.0 dB/km as it moves through air

b) Correcting for absorption, find the sound level at a distance of 1 km from the launch

c) Correcting for absorption, find the sound level at a distance of 10 km from the launch (this is about the distance the closest spectators were allowed for space shuttle launches – the shuttle’s rockets were not as loud as Saturn V)

d) A normal conversation between two people is at about 60 dB. How many times louder or quieter is the rocket launch from a distance of 10 km?

Answer 1