sound intensity

sound intensity, amount of energy flowing per unit time through a unit area that is perpendicular to the direction in which the sound waves are travelling. Sound intensity may be measured in units of energy or work—e.g., microjoules (10^-6 joule) per second per square centimetre—or in units of power, as microwatts (10^-6 watt) per square centimetre. Unlike loudness, sound intensity is objective and can be measured by auditory equipment independent of an observer’s hearing. The...