How do you define decibel?
The decibel (dB) is a unit of measurement used to express the intensity of two physical quantities, most commonly sound and signal strength in electronics. The term “decibel” comes from “deci-” meaning tenth, and “bel” – a unit named after Alexander Graham Bell, a prominent figure in telecommunications. So, a decibel is one-tenth of a bel. However, you’ll most often see measurements given in decibels, not bels.
How does the decibel measure sound?
The decibel, in the context of sound, measures the intensity of sound or the pressure level of sound waves. It’s a logarithmic unit, meaning it describes a ratio rather than an absolute quantity. This logarithmic nature helps decibels fit the broad range of human hearing into manageable numbers. For instance, the quietest sound a human ear can typically hear is 0 dB, while a loud rock concert may be around 120 dB. Decibels in electronics and telecommunications are used to quantify signal strength or power levels. Here, a dB is used to describe a ratio between an input level and an output level. When dealing with signals, you might encounter terms like dBm or dBW. In these cases, the decibel is referenced to a specific absolute level (1 milliwatt for dBm, 1 watt for dBW).
Why is the decibel helpful?
The logarithmic nature of the decibel is especially useful when dealing with the large ranges encountered in electronics. For example, signal strengths can span from tiny fractions of a watt to many thousands of watts. By using a logarithmic scale, these largely different quantities can be expressed and manipulated more conveniently. Decibels have a unique feature that makes them valuable for calculations involving the increase or decrease of power levels. Instead of multiplying or dividing these levels, you can just add or subtract their decibel values. This is because decibels are based on a logarithmic scale. So, if you have two amplifiers each boosting signal strength by a factor of ten each (equivalent to 20 dB), their combined effect isn’t just twice as strong (40 dB), it’s actually a hundred times stronger. But remember, this adding rule works directly with power levels. When it comes to things like voltage or sound pressure, where power changes with the square of these values, the rule changes a bit. For example, if you double the voltage or pressure, the increase is about 6 dB, not 3dB.
The use of decibels ranges from use in acoustics to measure sound levels to electronics and telecommunications to indicate signal strength or power levels. The decibel’s unique scaling system, which increases by multiples rather than by constant addition, is useful for handling the wide variations often seen in sound or signal strength in these fields. Also, the fact that you can add decibel values together makes it easier to calculate the total effect when multiple sounds or signals combine.