When the viola section of an orchestra with six members plays together, is the sound 6 times as loud as when a single viola plays? Explain. Is the intensity 6 times what it would be for a single viola? [Hint: The six sound waves are not coherent]

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Dereon Parker · Accepted Answer

The difference between two intensity levels       β          2        −      β          1       can be expressed as:      β          2        −      β          1        =  10  d  B  ∗      log          10        ⁡            I              2                    I              1            Where       I          1       and       I          2       are the two intensities. Sound intensity level can be used to approximate how humans perceive loudness.Since the waves are not coherent, there won&#039;t be any constructive or destructive behaviour. Final intensity is the sum of individual intensities. Therefore, the final intensity is 6 times what it would be for a single instrument.Substitute             I              2                    I              1              =  6 into the above equation for the difference between two intensity levels:      β          2        −      β          1        =  10  d  B  ∗      log          10        ⁡            I              2                    I              1              =  10  d  B  ∗      log          10        ⁡  6=7.78dBTherefore, loudness increases by around 7.78dB

When the viola section of an orchestra with six members plays together, is the sound 6 times as loud as when a single viola plays? Explain. Is the intensity 6 times what it would be for a single viola? [Hint: The six sound waves are not coherent]

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