How is the decibel level of a sound calculated with respect to a reference level?

To calculate the decibel level of a sound with respect to a reference level, the correct formula is based on the relationship between two power levels. The standard equation for sound pressure or power measurements in decibels is:

dB = 10 log10(P1/P0)

This formula indicates that the decibel level (dB) is determined by taking ten times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the power level of interest (P1) compared to a reference power level (P0).

Using this formula allows for a way to express very large or very small values in a more manageable form, as the decibel scale is logarithmic. This is crucial in audio and acoustics because it aligns with how human perception of sound intensity works—our ears perceive sound levels on a logarithmic scale, meaning that a small increase in sound pressure corresponds to a significantly greater perceived loudness.

In contrast to the other options, this specific calculation accurately represents the power ratio in decibels. The choices using 20 instead of 10 are typically used in reference to voltage or pressure levels and not power levels. The choice involving "5" and the addition of P1 and P0 does not conform to the standard dec