What does that noise *really* sound like? Put in a decibel level to see a fun comparison.
Enter a number to see a comparison.
You hear them every day, but what exactly is a decibel? In simple terms, a **decibel (dB)** is the unit used to measure sound level. What's tricky is that the scale is not linear; it's logarithmic. This means a small increase in the decibel number represents a huge increase in sound intensity. For example, a 60 dB sound is 10 times more intense than a 50 dB sound. A 70 dB sound is 100 times more intense than a 50 dB sound!
Understanding this logarithmic scale helps explain why a loud rock concert or a jet engine can feel so overwhelming and why prolonged exposure to loud sounds can be so damaging to our hearing. Sounds above 85 dB are considered potentially harmful, and the louder the sound, the less time it takes to cause damage.
So, next time you are near something loud, remember to consider the decibel level! Your ears will thank you for it.