When I think that I am listening way loud I just turn my SPL meter on to validate, I have not reached 100dB yet in my room... I ñive at usally a 69d¶-90dB range depending on my mood and genre of music.
How loud is loud?
- Thread starter audioguy
- Start date
I think the max theoretical SPL is more like this... The dB SPL equivalent figure is calculated like this:
Starting with the definition of 0 dB :
0 dB SPL = 0.0002 micro-Bars ( = 1/5000th)
( 1 Bar = atmospheric pressure.)
1 micro-Bar = 5000 times the SPL level of 0dB
1 micro-Bar = 20 log5000 = 74 dB SPL
1 Bar = 1,000,000 times the above pressure
20log 1,000,000 = 120
So adding 120 to 74 = 194 dB SPL
If you use the " correct " peak values ( ie 2 Bar and 0.00028
micro-Bar) the figure is then 197 dB SPL.
In simpler terms:
dB = 20*log(p/pref)
p at sea level = 14.7 psia = 101352.9 pascals
pref = 20 micropascals
So,
dB = 20*log(101352.9/0.00002)
dB = 194 for 1 atmosphere at sea level
Yes, peak SPL, as in snare drum hits, bass notes, etc., not a sustained SPL as that would cause permanent hearing damage within 1-2 seconds. A 20mS snare drum hit, or the 1-2mS crack of an exploding mortar is more forgiving. That's why certain 'dense' rock music with screaming guitars and vocals is not in my playlist. Music has to have a lot of open space in between the louder hits, otherwise it becomes pain, not pleasure. A couple of times in the past 38 years of high volume listening, did I actually sit through a minute or so of really loud continuous rock and when I stopped, I could not hear my own voice when I spoke! What I heard was a distorted version of my voice that sounded vaguely like a low sample rate recording with aliasing, through a low pass filter. Gradually over the hours, my hearing returned to normal, but ears rang for days. With my system, most of the SPL is on bass below 50Hz.
I did an interesting test last summer, while troubleshooting rattles in my cinema screen, using a 10Hz sine tone at low levels of about 100dB. I was determining that the drape hangers were rattling against the aluminum U channel track from which they hung, so I remedied with a rubber grommet the length of the track. While conducting the test, I noticed that, while the 10Hz was completely inaudible at that low volume level, my voice was garbled when I spoke! The 10Hz sine tone was intermodulating against my voice, in my ears.
I did an interesting test last summer, while troubleshooting rattles in my cinema screen, using a 10Hz sine tone at low levels of about 100dB. I was determining that the drape hangers were rattling against the aluminum U channel track from which they hung, so I remedied with a rubber grommet the length of the track. While conducting the test, I noticed that, while the 10Hz was completely inaudible at that low volume level, my voice was garbled when I spoke! The 10Hz sine tone was intermodulating against my voice, in my ears.
Really??
How loud is a nuclear explosion??
have no idea, have they ever measured that>?
Just for fun. WARNING: VERY LONG
Ultimate Sound Pressure Level Decibel Table , COPYWRITE WILLIAM HAMBY 2004
Decibel?s ( db ) are units of ratio?s and in this table are expressed in atmospheric decibels and in this table are REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OBJECT (N), and not neccesarily what the listener or sound level meter experiences (P).
(N) = NORMALIZED TOTAL AIR POWER ENERGY LEVEL SOUND PLUS ANY WIND, WATTS OR JOULES PER SECOND.THESE LEVELS HAVE BEEN CONVERTED
(P) = ACTUAL PEAK PRESSURE METER READINGS i.e. A FORCE PER UNIT AREA
(NP) = NORMALIZED PRESSURE USED IN EXPLOSIVE MEASUREMENTS, BLAST WIND IS NOT INCLUDED
(Q) = BLAST WIND DYNAMIC PRESSURE CREATED BY THE PEAK SHOCK FRONT OVERPRESSURE (P)
REF. = REFERENCE NUMBER OF DATA SOURCE AND YEAR IN APPENDIX BELOW
DECIBEL LEVEL (N = NORMALIZED)( P = ACTUAL PRESSURE) (NP = BOMB PRESSURE) CAUSE OR EFFECT
-30 (N) ONE HUMAN TALKING 20 MILES AWAY ( 60 DB / METER AT A DISTANCE OF 20 MILES )-REF.1.2003
-4 TO +4 (N) THE TICKING OF AN ORDINARY WRISTWATCH AT 1 METER -REF.1 2003
0 (N) BEGINNING OF HEARING, A MOSQUITO 10 FEET AWAY, THE EAR DRUM MOVES LESS -REF.1.1990
THAN 1 / 100 THE LENGTH OF AN AIR MOLECULE (N)
3.5 (P) 1E-10 METERS OF MERCURY = 0.0000000001 METERS OF MERCURY
10 (P) ABSOLUTE SILENCE, ATT-BELL LABORATORY ? QUIET ROOM ?
13 (P) ORDINARY LIGHT BULB HUM
15 (N) A PIN DROP FROM A HIEGHT OF 1 CENTIMETER AT A DISTANCE OF 1 METER -REF.1.2003
30 (P) TOTALLY QUIET NIGHTIME IN DESERT-IMPOSSIBLE ANYWHERE NEAR CITY
35 (P) ANECHOIC HEARING TEST ROOM -REF.1. 1998
40 A WHISPER, A NORMAL CONVERSATION IS 60 DB, NORMAL SOUND 70 DB -REF.1.1983
73.98(P) = 1 uBAR = 1 microbar pressure
85 BEGINNING OF HEARING DAMAGE, EARPLUGS SHOULD BE WORN
93.98(P) = 1 PASCAL PRESSURE
100 NORMAL AVERAGE CAR OR HOUSE STEREO AT MAXIMUM VOLUME -REF.1.1982
107-104 (P) THE BEGINNING OF PAIN AT THE MOST SENSITIVE FREQUENCY OF 2750 HERTZ -REF.1.1982
109 ONE SOUND WATT RADIATING AS A PERFECT SPHERE, 4 PI SQUARE METERS -REF.1. 1986
110 A CAR STEREO WITH TWO 6 X 9? SPEAKERS AND 100 WATTS -REF.1.1982
113.81(P) = 1 MILLIMETER WATER
114-107 A VERY LARGE, POWERFUL PORTABLE RADIO REF.1.1982
116 HUMAN BODY BEGINS TO PERCIEVE VIBRATION IN THE LOW FREQUENCIES -REF.1.1986
117-123 HOME STEREO SYSTEM, A VERY LOUD AND POWERFUL 200-2000 WATTS -REF.1.1983
120.24(P) ONE PURE SOUND WATT FLOWING THROUGH 1 SQUARE METER, YOUR ELECTRIC AMPLIFIER MAY BE 3000 WATTS.ALSO A TESTIMONY TO HEARING SENSITIVITY -REF.1.1986
120-130 FRONT ROW AT A ROCK CONCERT- UP TO 200 REFRIGERATOR SIZE SPEAKERS
AND 50000-300000 WATTS OF CLEAN, FULL FREQUENCY SOUND -REF.1.1981
125 DRUM SET-ONLY AT THE MOMENT OF STRIKING, CONTINOUS LEVEL 115
126-130 TYPICAL PROFESSIONAL D.J. SYSTEM -REF.1.1984
127 HUMAN TINNITUS (RINGING IN THE EARS) BEGINS -REF.1.1984
127.48 = 1 pound per square foot
128 (P)HUMAN, LOUDEST SCREAM MEASURED AT A DISTANCE OF 8 FEET 2 INCHES
128 HUMAN HEAD HAIR BEGINS TO DETECT VIBRATION -REF.1.1983
128 HUMAN CAN BEGIN TO DETECT VERY SLOW ?BLAST WIND? OF 0.124 METERS/SECOND -REF.1.1983
130 (N)MARCHING BAND-OVERALL LEVEL AT A DISTANCE, 100-200 MEMBERS -REF.1.1996
132 EARDRUM ?FLEX? TOTALLY NOTICEABLE -REF.1.1982
132.4(P) = 1 SOUND WATT MAXIMUM IN A SMALL SEALED BOX BELOW HYDRODYNAMIC CRITICAL LOW FREQUENCY
133 (N)GUNSHOT- EAR LEVEL, MAY VARY GREATLY TO SIZE AND TYPE OF GUN,
DURATION CONVERTED TO ONE SECOND, PEAK LEVEL MAY REACH 140-160 (P)
133.98 (P) = 1 MILLIBAR PRESSURE
135-122 (P) ?VERY LOUD? CAR STEREO, ONLY BASS LEVEL, HIGHS RARELY ABOVE 115(P) -REF.1.1983
135-130(N) LARGE TRAIN HORN -REF.1.1985
135 HUMAN, A SLIGHT COOLING EFFECT BEGINS TO BE NOTICED, FROM AIR EXPANSION -REF.1.1983
136.498(P) = 1 TORR PRESSURE = 1 MILLIMETER MERCURY
137 HUMAN BODY VIBRATION IS STRONG -REF.1.1983
137-140 HUMAN EAR ALL FREQUENCIES ARE PAINFUL -REF.1.1983
140 EXTREMELY DAMAGING TO HEARING NO MATTER HOW SHORT THE TIME EXPOSURE
140 BLAST WIND = U = (PARTICLE VELOCITY) IS 0.49 METERS PER SECOND OR ABOUT 1 MPH
140 HUMAN THROAT AND VOCAL CORD VIBRATION BEGINS -REF.1.1983
141 HUMAN BODY BEGINS TO FEEL NASUEA AFTER A FEW MINUTES -REF.1.1983
141.918(P) = 1 INCH OF WATER PRESSURE
142 HUMAN BODY CHESTPOUNDING IS INTENCE -REF.1.1983
142 (P) INSIDE A CAR WITH TWO PRO 18 INCH WOOFERS AND 300 WATTS EACH -REF.1.1983
143 HUMAN BODY FEELS AS IF SOMEONE JUST FOOTBALL TACKLED YOUR CHEST -REF.1.1983
144 HUMAN NOSE ITCHES -REF.1.1983
145 HUMAN VISION BEGINS TO VIBRATE MAKING IT SLIGHTLY BLURRY, 1-3 DEGREES -REF.1.1983
145-136 (P)?COMPETITION? CAR STEREO, SIXTEEN 12 OR EIGHT 15, OR FOUR 18 SPEAKERS -REF.1.1983
146.1(P) AIR PARTICLE VELOCITY(WIND) IS 1 METER PER SECOND OR ABOUT 2 MILES PER HOUR
147 (N)FORMULA 1 RACE CAR, 700 HORSEPOWER, CHESTPOUNDING AND SUCTION FORCE ON CALM QUIET
MORNINGS CAN CLEARLY BE HEARD 6 MILES AWAY.-REF.1.1991
148 HUMAN VIBRATION VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND SLIGHTLY PAINFUL -REF.1.1986
149 HUMAN LUNGS AND BREATHING BEGINS VIBRATING TO THE SOUND -REF.1.1986
150 (N)ROCK CONCERT ?THE WHO? TWO 10 STORY STACKS = 144 DOUBLE REFRIDGERATOR SIZED SPEAKERS, ACTUAL LEVEL REACHED 120 DB AT A DISTANCE OF 32 METERS FOR THIS NORMALIZED READING OF 150 DB.CONTINOUS LEVEL 114-118db (P) AT 32 METERS -REF.1.1982
150 ROCK CONCERT SPEAKER AT 1600 WATTS ON THE ACTUAL VIBRATING SURFACE -REF.1.1991
150 HUMAN SENSATION OF BEING COMPRESSED AS IF UNDERWATER IS OVERWHELMING -REF.1.1983
150 HUMAN SOUND EXPERIMENTS DOWN TO 1 TO 2 HERTZ - REF.13.
152 HUMAN VIBRATION IS PAINUL AND ALSO FELT IN ALL JOINTS -REF.1.1983
153 HUMAN THROAT IS VIBRATING SO HARD IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SWALLOW -REF.1.1983
154 TOY BALLOON POPPING, DEPENDS ON TYPE AND HOW LARGE AND HARD TO INFLATE -REF.1.1986
155 HUMAN BODY COMPRESSION AND EXPANSION TO VIBRATION IS TO THE ?CORE? -REF.1.1983
155 HUMAN COOLING EFFECT IS HIGH, AS A GUESS 10 TO 25 DEGREES FARENHEIT? -REF.1.1983
156 (P)IN A MINI-VAN WITH TWENTY 12? WOOFERS AND 19,000 WATTS OF AMPLIFIER POWER.
EACH SPEAKERS IS DISPLACING (PUMPING BACK AND FORTH ) 0.75 INCHES
IF LONG HAIR WOMEN SIT IN IT, HER HAIR WILL FLY OUT OF WINDOW WITH BASS
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FLY OFF VEHICLE 1/2 TO 2 INCHES, DOOR AND FRONT
WINDSHIELD FLEXION MAY BE UP TO +-2 INCHES OR 4 INCHES PEAK TO PEAK
EVEN WITH EARPLUGS (-30 DB) AND HEADMUFFS (-24 DB) = -54 DB IT?S STILL LOUD -REF.1.1997
156.498(P) = 1 CENTIMETER MERCURY = 0.01 METERS MERCURY
158 HUMAN BODY VIBRATION IS VIOLENT, NAUSEA BECOMES MORE INTENCE -REF.1.1983
158 (P)INSIDE A ROCK CONCERT SPEAKER BOX REFRIDGERATOR SIZE AT MAX. 5000 WATTS -REF.1.1983
160 (P)FLASHLIGHTS EXHIBIT ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSING-EMP (DIMMING DURING SOUND) -REF.1.1983
162 U.S. FESTIVAL ROCK CONCERT 1983. 10 SEPARATE STACKS, AMPS = 400,000 WATTS (N) -REF.1.1983,-REF.3.
163-153 (N) N.H.R.A. DRAGSTERS- 5000 TO 7000 HORSEPOWER, LIQUID NITROGLYCERIN FUEL,
EARTHSHAKING AT 50 FEET, HUMANS FIND IT HARD TO SEE, AND BREATHE 140db(P) -REF.1.1987
163 (P)GLASSBREAKING LEVEL, MINIMUM, IT IS VERY HARD TO BREAK GLASS WINDOWS.
MANY STORIES COME FROM BREAKING GLASS BUT IT IS HIGHLY VARIABLE: IT IS
EASIER TO BREAK IF THE WINDOW ALREADY HAS A CRACK, IS VERY LARGE OR
OLD AND BRITTLE AND NOT CAR SAFETY GLASS WHICH CAN FLEX MASSIVELY
BEFORE BREAKING. AN OPERA SINGER AT 110 DB MAY BREAK A WINEGLASS BUT IT IS AN
EXAMPLE OF FREQUENCY RESONANCE, AND NOT HIGH SOUND DB LEVEL -REF.1.1987
163 (N)OCEAN WHALE REFERENCE 2 EXP-5 NEWTONS PER SQUARE METER
164 (P)INTERNAL SOUND PRESSURE OF A LARGE JET AIRPLANE TURBINE MOTOR -REF.1.1993
164.568(P) = 1 INCH MERCURY PRESSURE
165-145 (NP) THE COMMON TYPE OF FIREWORKS AT PROFESSIONAL PYROTECHNIC SHOWS -REF.1.1988
165 (N)JET AIRPLANE, BOEING 727-15,000 LBS OF THRUST, DEPENDS ON THE TAKEOFF -REF.1.1982
165(P) MOTOR DRIVEN PISTON HEADPHONES -REF.16.
166 AIR PARTICLE VELOCITY IS 10 METERS PER SECOND OR ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR
170.75 PRESSURE (P) = 1 P.S.I. = 1 POUND PER SQUARE INCH MOST SOUND READINGS
HIGHER THAN THIS REFER TO P.S.I. INSTEAD OF DB. BUILDINGS AND HOUSES
HAVE APPROXIMATELY A 50 % CHANCE OF SURVIVAL REF.2.
171-150 (P)WORLDS LOUDEST CAR STEREOS, UP TO 80 SPEAKERS,32 CAR BATTERYS,
100,000 WATTS, 125-138 (N)
171(P) acoustic air pressure generator -ref.12
172 (N) 727, 737, 747, 757, 767 CRUSING AT 6 MILES HIGH MACH 0.84, AT THE GROUND (SEA LEVEL) LOSES AN ADDITIONAL 6 DB BECAUSE AIR DENCITY IS ONLY HALF SEA LEVEL AT A HIEGHT OF 6 MILES
172 FOG IS CREATED, DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURE, DEW POINT AND HUMIDITY
173-164 (P)BASS INJECTION TESTS, EXPIERIMENTAL ELECTROMAGNETIC TYPE SPEAKERS -REF.1.1987
173(P) = hydraulic, whole body dynamic pressure chamber, at 8 hertz -ref.11.
174 AIR BEGINS TO HEAT UP DUE TO COMPRESSION, MOST SHOCK WAVES ARE VERY HOT
174(P) LOUDSPEAKER COUPLED MANOMETER HEADPHONES DOWN TO 1 HERTZ -REF.15.
175 (N) QUARTER DYNAMITE STICK, VERY CLOSE PRESSURE MAY EXCEED 210 db (P)
175.8(P) 1 TON T.N.T. AT 250 FEET
177 (P) = 2 P.S.I., DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES ARE SIGNIFICANT, 30% SURVIVAL -REF.2.
180 (P) 1 POUND T.N.T. AT 15 FEET -REF.4.
180 (P) = 3 P.S.I., DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES IS CATASTROPHIC, WHEN A SHOCK -REF.2.
WAVE HITS A STRUCTURE ITS MOMENTUM AND PRESSURE MORE THAN DOUBLES, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER DB LEVELS, DYNAMIC WIND IS ABOUT 103 MILE / HOUR
AND CAUSES A LARGE PORTION OF DAMAGE, 15 % OBJECT SURVIVAL -REF.2.
180 (P) = MOTOR DRIVE COUPLED MANOMETER STATIC PRESSURE, 165 DB(P) UP TO 50 HERTZ, -REF.14.
182 (P) 1 TON T.N.T AT 150 FEET, EXACTLY 182.2 DB -REF.4.
183 (P) = 6 P.S.I. TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF ALL STRUCTURES, PARTICLE VELOCITY
(BLAST WIND) IS 180 MILES PER HOUR. 0.9 MILES FROM HIROSHIMA ATOMIC BOMB
AND 3.3 MILES FROM 1MEGATON NUCLEAR BOMB, LESS 0.1 % OBJECT SURVIVAL -REF.2.
185.75 (NP) 0.375 POUNDS OF T.N.T. RIECHTER -1.5
186.1(P) 1 POUND T.N.T AT DISTANCE OF 10 FEET -REF.4.
187 (P) 1 TON T.N.T. AT 100 FEET, EXACTLY 186.8 DB -REF.4.
190.60 (NP) RIECHTER SCALE 0 (ZERO) EARTHQUAKE
190.60 (NP) 2.0000 POUNDS T.N.T.
191 (N)BOMB-VERY SMALL 1 LB. OR GRENADE, VERY CLOSE PRESSURE MAY EXCEED 210 db (P)
193.806(P) = 1 KILOGRAM PER SQUARE CENTIMETER
193.979(P) = 1 BAR PRESSURE = 14.504 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH = 14.504 P.S.I.
194.09(P) = 1 (ONE) AIR ATMOSPHERE = 14.6962 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH = 14.6962 P.S.I.= 1 ATM
SOUND WAVES DISTORT AND ARE NOW DEFINED AS SHOCK WAVES AND THEY BEGIN TO FOLLOW SHOCK WAVE BEHAVIOR. PARTICLE VELOCITY (BLAST WIND) = 590 FEET / SECOND = 180 METERS PER SECOND = 402 MILES PER HOUR. -REF.2.
194.1(P)EXACTLY, 1 POUND T.N.T. AT 6 FEET -REF.4.
195-190 (P) HUMAN EARDRUMS RUPTURE 50 % OF TIME -REF.2.
195.2(P) 1 TON T.N.T. AT 60 FEET -REF.4.
200.59 (NP) 63.24 POUNDS OF T.N.T., RIECHTER SCALE 1
202-198 (P) HUMAN DEATH FROM SOUND (SHOCK) WAVE ALONE. DEATH FROM: SCHRAPNEL AT ANY LEVEL ABOVE 165 DB IS LIKELY AND BEING THROWN (10 FEET PER SECOND) ABOVE 180 DB -REF.2.
205.29(NP) 320 POUNDS OF T.N.T. RIECHTER 1.5
207 (N)BOMB, SMALL SIZED 250 POUNDS, 14 FOOT WIDE CRATER, NEARBY MAY EXCEED 238 db (P) -REF.2.
207.46 (P) = 68.48 P.S.I.= (Q), CRITICAL PRESSURE, THE SHOCK WAVE PRESSURE(P) AND DYNAMIC (BLAST WIND) PRESSURE(Q) ARE EQUAL, LOUDER THAN THIS DYNAMIC PRESSURE(Q) WILL ALWAYS BE MORE THAN SHOCK PRESSURE(P). BLAST WIND (PARTICLE VELOCITY = U) IS 1697 FEET PER SECOND = 518 METERS SECOND = 1157 MILES PER HOUR. 400 FEET FROM A 1000 TON T.N.T EXPLOSION -REF.2.
209 (N)BOMB, MEDIUM 500 POUNDS, 18 FOOT WIDE CRATER NEARBY MAY EXCEED 240 db (P) -REF.2.4.
210 N.A.S.A. 400,000 ACOUSTIC WATTS EXPIERIMENTAL NOISEMAKER 48 FEET ACROSS OF CONCRETE AND STEEL
210.6 (NP) EARTHQUAKE REICHTER SCALE 2.0
210.6 (NP) 1 TON OF T.N.T. and a 23.40 foot crater
212 (N) SONIC BOOM AVERAGE FROM JET -REF.5.
213 (N) SONIC BOOM GENERATES APPROXIMATELY 1.2 GIGAWATTS OR 1.6 MILLION HORSEPOWER -REF.1.2002
213 (N) BOMB 1 TON TNT, 23 FOOT WIDE CRATER OR 175.8 db (P) AT 250 FEET. 213.44 EXACT -REF.1.2.4.
214.09(P) = 10 atmospheres, DB(Q) BLAST WIND = 217.439 DB(Q)
215 SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH EXHAUST, APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES PER SECOND
215 (N)THUNDER, THE LARGEST POSITIVE GIANTS. ORDINARY THUNDER 165-180 DB.LIGHTNING STRIKE
ON OCEAN SURFACE 234db (P) AT 2exp-5 NEWTONS PER SQUARE METER
215 (N) BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY FIRING ALL 9 SIXTEEN INCH GUNS
216 (P) INSIDE A NORMAL CAR ENGINE CYLINDER WITH A 9 TO 1 COMPRESSION RATIO
216.0 (NP)+-0.3 DB 6.5 TONS OF T.N.T. EXACT EXTREMELY ACCURATE HIGH TECH MEASUREMENTS -REF. 8
217.439(Q) = DYNAMIC PRESSURE BLAST WIND FROM A 10 ATMOSPHERE OVERPRESSURE
218.2(NP)sonic boom F-16. at 100 feet high = 3.92 lbs.per square foot = 139.6db, +78.6db = 8536.5 meters high -REF.1.10. 2002
220 ?(N)BOMB, LARGEST USED IN WWII, WIEGHING 11 TONS AND 25 FEET LONG -REF.1.3. 2001
220 (N)SATURN 5 ROCKETSHIP, MELTS CONCRETE AND BURNS GRASS ONE MILE AWAY
REACHED A VELOCITY OF 5 MILES PER SECOND AND MOON ON JULY 20, 1969
220 ?(N)SPACE SHUTTLE LANDING SONIC BOOM WITH VELOCITY OF MACH 20 -REF.1. 1998
225 (P) INSIDE A NORMAL DIESEL MOTOR SEMI-TRUCK CYLINDER 25 TO 1 COMPRESSION
226.59 (NP) TRAIN EXPLOSION 2004 FEB 19 09:37AM NEYSHABUR, IRAN, runaway train, possible terrorism, shattered windows at 15 km.,crater is 500 feet diameter and 50 feet deep, magnitude 3.6 riechter, at several miles "the entire area shook", heard at 75 km, equal to 251.195 tons of t.n.t., 51 car train = 17 cars sulpher, 6 cars gasoline, 7 cars ammonium nitrate fertilizer (a.n.f.o.), 10 cars cotton wool, 3 left at station not involved, 8 miscellaneous loads
228.1 (P)EXACTLY. 1 POUND OF T.N.T. AT A DISTANCE OF 1 FOOT -REF.4.
229 (N) SEAFLOOR VOLCANIC ERUPTION, REFERENCE 2 EXP-5 NEWTONS PER SQUARE METER
230.59 (NP) EARTHQUAKE RIECHTER 4.0
230.59 (NP) 1000 TONS OF T.N.T.
232 (N)LARGE NON-NUCLEAR EXPLOSION, 500 TONS, 1917 DESTRUCTION OF GERMAN
WWI TUNNELS IN MESSINES RIDGE BELGIUM, HEARD OR FELT IN LONDON (N) -REF.1.,-REF.3.
234.09(P) = 100 ATMOSPHERES, BLAST WIND = 241.46 DB(Q)
235 (P) 1 TON T.N.T. AT 10 FEET, EXACTLY 235.3 DB -REF.4.
? (N)TORNADO AVERAGE, 5100 TONS OF T.N.T. -REF.1. 2004
235.19 (NP) EARTHQUAKE RIECHTER 5.0
235.19 (NP) 31624 TONS OF T.N.T.
240 (N)ONE KILOTON OF T.N.T EXPLOSIVE, 233 FOOT WIDE CRATER 29 FEET DEEP,10 P.S.I. AT 1000 FEET (P), 230 DB AT 10000 FT(N) -REF.2.
240?(N)TORNADO, FUJITSU 5, ENERGY GUESS BASED ON 300 MILE PER HOUR WIND, 1 MILE WIDE -REF.1.1997
241.46 (Q) = blast wind pressure from a 100 atm overpressure
243 (N)LARGEST NON-NUCLEAR EXPLOSION EVER, 1947 DESTRUCTION OF NAZI U-BOAT PENS
USED 7100 TONS OF EXPLOSIVE -REF.1. -REF.3.
247 (P) BOMB INSIDE SHOCK WAVE MAXIMUM LIMIT PRESSURE OF T.N.T. EXPLOSIVE -REF.2.4
248 (N)ATOMIC BOMB-HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI JAPAN AUG. 6, 9, 1945.TRAGICALLY KILLED
300,000 PEAPLE. TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED 16 SQUARE MILES, CRACKED DISTANT CONCRETE WALLS 12? THICK, EQUAL TO 20,000 TONS OF T.N.T., WIND WAS AROUND 300 MILES PER HOUR, DESTROYED WALLS 28? THICK AT 1 MILE.POWER TO MAKE A CRATER 633 FEET WIDE AND 80 FEET DEEP -REF.1.2.
254.09 (P) = 1000 atmospheres overpressure, dynamic pressure = 261.721 db(Q)
255 (N) 600 KILOTONS GROUND BURST CRATER IS 2112 FEET WIDE AND 211 FEET DEEP -REF.2.
257 (N)NUCLEAR BOMB, 1 MEGATON (1 MILLION TONS OF T.N.T.) -REF.2.
? (N)NUCLEAR BOMB "OAK" 8.9 MEGATON, ENEWETAK,JUNE 29 1958,5740 FEET WIDE 204 DEEP CRATER
261.721 (Q) = dynamic blast wind pressure generated from a 1000 atmosphere overpressure
274.09 (P) = 10000 atmospheres overpressure, dynamic pressure = 282.042 db(Q)
278 (N)NUCLEAR BOMB, ?BRAVO? TEST 15 MEGATONS, 1954, BIKINI ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS -REF.2.
? (N)METEOR HITTING EARTH, ?ARIZONA CRATER? SPEED WAS 44 MILES PER SECOND
AND ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HOUSE AND MADE A CRATER ONE MILE IN DIAMETER 20 MT T.N.T.
? (N)NUCLEAR BOMB, 20 MEGATONS, SURFACE BURST CRATER IS 7392 FEET WIDE AND 792 FEET DEEP
282 (N)NUCLEAR BOMB, 57 MEGATONS HYDROGEN LARGEST EVER DETONATED, 1961
SHOCK WAVES CIRCLED THE EARTH 3 TIMES, FIRST ORBIT TOOK 36 HR 27 MIN. -REF.2.
282.042 db(Q) = dynamic wind pressure from a 10000 atm overpressure source
286 (N)MT. SAINT HELENS VOLCANO ERUPTION-BABY VOLCANO, BLEW DOWN TREES 16
MILES AWAY. COULD BE SEEN FROM OUTER SPACE ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE
BLEW OUT SOME WINDOWS IN SEATTLE-TACOMA 200 MILES AWAY, 163 db (P) -REF.20.
294.09 (P) = 100000 atmosphere overpressure, dynamic pressure = 302.0488 db(Q)
296 (N)EARTHQUAKE 8.6 RIECHTER SCALE- GROUND MOVED UP AND DOWN 13 FEET. -REF.1.3. 1988
300 (N)HURRICANE ? AVERAGE, EXTREME ENERGY IS ?DILUTED? BY COVERING 500,000
SQUARE MILES. ENERGY = APPROX. 1000 NUCLEAR BOMBS A SECOND.
302?(N) TUNGUSTA SIBERIA METEOR, BLEW DOWN HOUSES 600 MILES AWAY -REF.1.3. 1989
302.0488 db(Q) = dynamic pressure from a 100000 atmospheres overpressure
310 (N)KRAKATOA VOLCANO ERUPTION-1883 A.D., CRACKED ONE FOOT THICK CONCRETE
AT 300 MILES, CREATED A 3000 FOOT TIDAL WAVE, HEARD 3100 MILES AWAY,
SOUND PRESSURE CAUSED BAROMETERS TO FLUCTUATE WILDLY AT 100 MILES
INDICATING LEVELS OF AT LEAST 170-190 DB (P) AT THIS DISTANCE OF 100 MILES
EVEN WHEN SHOUTING IN SOMEONES EAR, COULD NOT BE HEARD AT 100 MILES
CAUSED FOG TO APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR INSTANTLY AT HUNDREDS OF MILES
ROCKS WERE THROWN TO A HIEGHT OF 34 MILES. DUST AND DEBRIS FELL CONTINOUSLY FOR 10 DAYS AFTER BLAST. PRODUCED VERY COLORFUL SUNSETS FOR ONE YEAR, EJECTED 4 CUBIC MILES OF
THE EARTH. CREATED ANTI-NODE OF NEGATIVE PRESSURE AT THE EXACT OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE EARTH.SOUND COVERED 1 / 10 OF THE WORLDS SURFACE, SHOCK (SOUND) WAVES ?ECHOED? AROUND THE EARTH 36 TIMES AND LASTED FOR ABOUT A MONTH! -REF.19.
316 (N)VOLCANO ERUPTION SORANTINI, ITALY,1470 B.C. ALTHOUGH MORE ENERGY THAN KRAKATOA, IT BLEW UP OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF DAYS AND NOT AS VIOLENTLY, HENCE THE INSTANT PEAK PRESSURE IS BELIEVED TO BE LOWER -REF.1.3.
THAN KRAKATOA. 15 CUBIC MILES EJECTED, CREATED TIDAL WAVE 165 FEET
HIGH AT A DISTANCE OF 80 MILES -REF.3.
320 (N)VOLCANO ERUPTION, TAMBORA INDONESIA,1815, EJECTED 36 CUBIC MILES.APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO
14,000 MEGATON NUCLEAR BOMBS OR A 14 GIGATON BOMB BASED ON EJECTED VOLUME,CHANGE IN MEGATONS TIMES 1.345 EQUALS VOLUME EJECTED CHANGE.IF WAS A NUCLEAR BOMB IT WOULD CREATE A CRATER ABOUT 12.4 MILES WIDE AND 1.33 MILES DEEP.INTERNAL PRESSURE IS BELIEVED TO BE ABOUT 47 MILLION P.S.I. = 347 DB (P) -REF.1.3.
Ultimate Sound Pressure Level Decibel Table , COPYWRITE WILLIAM HAMBY 2004
Decibel?s ( db ) are units of ratio?s and in this table are expressed in atmospheric decibels and in this table are REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OBJECT (N), and not neccesarily what the listener or sound level meter experiences (P).
(N) = NORMALIZED TOTAL AIR POWER ENERGY LEVEL SOUND PLUS ANY WIND, WATTS OR JOULES PER SECOND.THESE LEVELS HAVE BEEN CONVERTED
(P) = ACTUAL PEAK PRESSURE METER READINGS i.e. A FORCE PER UNIT AREA
(NP) = NORMALIZED PRESSURE USED IN EXPLOSIVE MEASUREMENTS, BLAST WIND IS NOT INCLUDED
(Q) = BLAST WIND DYNAMIC PRESSURE CREATED BY THE PEAK SHOCK FRONT OVERPRESSURE (P)
REF. = REFERENCE NUMBER OF DATA SOURCE AND YEAR IN APPENDIX BELOW
DECIBEL LEVEL (N = NORMALIZED)( P = ACTUAL PRESSURE) (NP = BOMB PRESSURE) CAUSE OR EFFECT
-30 (N) ONE HUMAN TALKING 20 MILES AWAY ( 60 DB / METER AT A DISTANCE OF 20 MILES )-REF.1.2003
-4 TO +4 (N) THE TICKING OF AN ORDINARY WRISTWATCH AT 1 METER -REF.1 2003
0 (N) BEGINNING OF HEARING, A MOSQUITO 10 FEET AWAY, THE EAR DRUM MOVES LESS -REF.1.1990
THAN 1 / 100 THE LENGTH OF AN AIR MOLECULE (N)
3.5 (P) 1E-10 METERS OF MERCURY = 0.0000000001 METERS OF MERCURY
10 (P) ABSOLUTE SILENCE, ATT-BELL LABORATORY ? QUIET ROOM ?
13 (P) ORDINARY LIGHT BULB HUM
15 (N) A PIN DROP FROM A HIEGHT OF 1 CENTIMETER AT A DISTANCE OF 1 METER -REF.1.2003
30 (P) TOTALLY QUIET NIGHTIME IN DESERT-IMPOSSIBLE ANYWHERE NEAR CITY
35 (P) ANECHOIC HEARING TEST ROOM -REF.1. 1998
40 A WHISPER, A NORMAL CONVERSATION IS 60 DB, NORMAL SOUND 70 DB -REF.1.1983
73.98(P) = 1 uBAR = 1 microbar pressure
85 BEGINNING OF HEARING DAMAGE, EARPLUGS SHOULD BE WORN
93.98(P) = 1 PASCAL PRESSURE
100 NORMAL AVERAGE CAR OR HOUSE STEREO AT MAXIMUM VOLUME -REF.1.1982
107-104 (P) THE BEGINNING OF PAIN AT THE MOST SENSITIVE FREQUENCY OF 2750 HERTZ -REF.1.1982
109 ONE SOUND WATT RADIATING AS A PERFECT SPHERE, 4 PI SQUARE METERS -REF.1. 1986
110 A CAR STEREO WITH TWO 6 X 9? SPEAKERS AND 100 WATTS -REF.1.1982
113.81(P) = 1 MILLIMETER WATER
114-107 A VERY LARGE, POWERFUL PORTABLE RADIO REF.1.1982
116 HUMAN BODY BEGINS TO PERCIEVE VIBRATION IN THE LOW FREQUENCIES -REF.1.1986
117-123 HOME STEREO SYSTEM, A VERY LOUD AND POWERFUL 200-2000 WATTS -REF.1.1983
120.24(P) ONE PURE SOUND WATT FLOWING THROUGH 1 SQUARE METER, YOUR ELECTRIC AMPLIFIER MAY BE 3000 WATTS.ALSO A TESTIMONY TO HEARING SENSITIVITY -REF.1.1986
120-130 FRONT ROW AT A ROCK CONCERT- UP TO 200 REFRIGERATOR SIZE SPEAKERS
AND 50000-300000 WATTS OF CLEAN, FULL FREQUENCY SOUND -REF.1.1981
125 DRUM SET-ONLY AT THE MOMENT OF STRIKING, CONTINOUS LEVEL 115
126-130 TYPICAL PROFESSIONAL D.J. SYSTEM -REF.1.1984
127 HUMAN TINNITUS (RINGING IN THE EARS) BEGINS -REF.1.1984
127.48 = 1 pound per square foot
128 (P)HUMAN, LOUDEST SCREAM MEASURED AT A DISTANCE OF 8 FEET 2 INCHES
128 HUMAN HEAD HAIR BEGINS TO DETECT VIBRATION -REF.1.1983
128 HUMAN CAN BEGIN TO DETECT VERY SLOW ?BLAST WIND? OF 0.124 METERS/SECOND -REF.1.1983
130 (N)MARCHING BAND-OVERALL LEVEL AT A DISTANCE, 100-200 MEMBERS -REF.1.1996
132 EARDRUM ?FLEX? TOTALLY NOTICEABLE -REF.1.1982
132.4(P) = 1 SOUND WATT MAXIMUM IN A SMALL SEALED BOX BELOW HYDRODYNAMIC CRITICAL LOW FREQUENCY
133 (N)GUNSHOT- EAR LEVEL, MAY VARY GREATLY TO SIZE AND TYPE OF GUN,
DURATION CONVERTED TO ONE SECOND, PEAK LEVEL MAY REACH 140-160 (P)
133.98 (P) = 1 MILLIBAR PRESSURE
135-122 (P) ?VERY LOUD? CAR STEREO, ONLY BASS LEVEL, HIGHS RARELY ABOVE 115(P) -REF.1.1983
135-130(N) LARGE TRAIN HORN -REF.1.1985
135 HUMAN, A SLIGHT COOLING EFFECT BEGINS TO BE NOTICED, FROM AIR EXPANSION -REF.1.1983
136.498(P) = 1 TORR PRESSURE = 1 MILLIMETER MERCURY
137 HUMAN BODY VIBRATION IS STRONG -REF.1.1983
137-140 HUMAN EAR ALL FREQUENCIES ARE PAINFUL -REF.1.1983
140 EXTREMELY DAMAGING TO HEARING NO MATTER HOW SHORT THE TIME EXPOSURE
140 BLAST WIND = U = (PARTICLE VELOCITY) IS 0.49 METERS PER SECOND OR ABOUT 1 MPH
140 HUMAN THROAT AND VOCAL CORD VIBRATION BEGINS -REF.1.1983
141 HUMAN BODY BEGINS TO FEEL NASUEA AFTER A FEW MINUTES -REF.1.1983
141.918(P) = 1 INCH OF WATER PRESSURE
142 HUMAN BODY CHESTPOUNDING IS INTENCE -REF.1.1983
142 (P) INSIDE A CAR WITH TWO PRO 18 INCH WOOFERS AND 300 WATTS EACH -REF.1.1983
143 HUMAN BODY FEELS AS IF SOMEONE JUST FOOTBALL TACKLED YOUR CHEST -REF.1.1983
144 HUMAN NOSE ITCHES -REF.1.1983
145 HUMAN VISION BEGINS TO VIBRATE MAKING IT SLIGHTLY BLURRY, 1-3 DEGREES -REF.1.1983
145-136 (P)?COMPETITION? CAR STEREO, SIXTEEN 12 OR EIGHT 15, OR FOUR 18 SPEAKERS -REF.1.1983
146.1(P) AIR PARTICLE VELOCITY(WIND) IS 1 METER PER SECOND OR ABOUT 2 MILES PER HOUR
147 (N)FORMULA 1 RACE CAR, 700 HORSEPOWER, CHESTPOUNDING AND SUCTION FORCE ON CALM QUIET
MORNINGS CAN CLEARLY BE HEARD 6 MILES AWAY.-REF.1.1991
148 HUMAN VIBRATION VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND SLIGHTLY PAINFUL -REF.1.1986
149 HUMAN LUNGS AND BREATHING BEGINS VIBRATING TO THE SOUND -REF.1.1986
150 (N)ROCK CONCERT ?THE WHO? TWO 10 STORY STACKS = 144 DOUBLE REFRIDGERATOR SIZED SPEAKERS, ACTUAL LEVEL REACHED 120 DB AT A DISTANCE OF 32 METERS FOR THIS NORMALIZED READING OF 150 DB.CONTINOUS LEVEL 114-118db (P) AT 32 METERS -REF.1.1982
150 ROCK CONCERT SPEAKER AT 1600 WATTS ON THE ACTUAL VIBRATING SURFACE -REF.1.1991
150 HUMAN SENSATION OF BEING COMPRESSED AS IF UNDERWATER IS OVERWHELMING -REF.1.1983
150 HUMAN SOUND EXPERIMENTS DOWN TO 1 TO 2 HERTZ - REF.13.
152 HUMAN VIBRATION IS PAINUL AND ALSO FELT IN ALL JOINTS -REF.1.1983
153 HUMAN THROAT IS VIBRATING SO HARD IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SWALLOW -REF.1.1983
154 TOY BALLOON POPPING, DEPENDS ON TYPE AND HOW LARGE AND HARD TO INFLATE -REF.1.1986
155 HUMAN BODY COMPRESSION AND EXPANSION TO VIBRATION IS TO THE ?CORE? -REF.1.1983
155 HUMAN COOLING EFFECT IS HIGH, AS A GUESS 10 TO 25 DEGREES FARENHEIT? -REF.1.1983
156 (P)IN A MINI-VAN WITH TWENTY 12? WOOFERS AND 19,000 WATTS OF AMPLIFIER POWER.
EACH SPEAKERS IS DISPLACING (PUMPING BACK AND FORTH ) 0.75 INCHES
IF LONG HAIR WOMEN SIT IN IT, HER HAIR WILL FLY OUT OF WINDOW WITH BASS
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FLY OFF VEHICLE 1/2 TO 2 INCHES, DOOR AND FRONT
WINDSHIELD FLEXION MAY BE UP TO +-2 INCHES OR 4 INCHES PEAK TO PEAK
EVEN WITH EARPLUGS (-30 DB) AND HEADMUFFS (-24 DB) = -54 DB IT?S STILL LOUD -REF.1.1997
156.498(P) = 1 CENTIMETER MERCURY = 0.01 METERS MERCURY
158 HUMAN BODY VIBRATION IS VIOLENT, NAUSEA BECOMES MORE INTENCE -REF.1.1983
158 (P)INSIDE A ROCK CONCERT SPEAKER BOX REFRIDGERATOR SIZE AT MAX. 5000 WATTS -REF.1.1983
160 (P)FLASHLIGHTS EXHIBIT ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSING-EMP (DIMMING DURING SOUND) -REF.1.1983
162 U.S. FESTIVAL ROCK CONCERT 1983. 10 SEPARATE STACKS, AMPS = 400,000 WATTS (N) -REF.1.1983,-REF.3.
163-153 (N) N.H.R.A. DRAGSTERS- 5000 TO 7000 HORSEPOWER, LIQUID NITROGLYCERIN FUEL,
EARTHSHAKING AT 50 FEET, HUMANS FIND IT HARD TO SEE, AND BREATHE 140db(P) -REF.1.1987
163 (P)GLASSBREAKING LEVEL, MINIMUM, IT IS VERY HARD TO BREAK GLASS WINDOWS.
MANY STORIES COME FROM BREAKING GLASS BUT IT IS HIGHLY VARIABLE: IT IS
EASIER TO BREAK IF THE WINDOW ALREADY HAS A CRACK, IS VERY LARGE OR
OLD AND BRITTLE AND NOT CAR SAFETY GLASS WHICH CAN FLEX MASSIVELY
BEFORE BREAKING. AN OPERA SINGER AT 110 DB MAY BREAK A WINEGLASS BUT IT IS AN
EXAMPLE OF FREQUENCY RESONANCE, AND NOT HIGH SOUND DB LEVEL -REF.1.1987
163 (N)OCEAN WHALE REFERENCE 2 EXP-5 NEWTONS PER SQUARE METER
164 (P)INTERNAL SOUND PRESSURE OF A LARGE JET AIRPLANE TURBINE MOTOR -REF.1.1993
164.568(P) = 1 INCH MERCURY PRESSURE
165-145 (NP) THE COMMON TYPE OF FIREWORKS AT PROFESSIONAL PYROTECHNIC SHOWS -REF.1.1988
165 (N)JET AIRPLANE, BOEING 727-15,000 LBS OF THRUST, DEPENDS ON THE TAKEOFF -REF.1.1982
165(P) MOTOR DRIVEN PISTON HEADPHONES -REF.16.
166 AIR PARTICLE VELOCITY IS 10 METERS PER SECOND OR ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR
170.75 PRESSURE (P) = 1 P.S.I. = 1 POUND PER SQUARE INCH MOST SOUND READINGS
HIGHER THAN THIS REFER TO P.S.I. INSTEAD OF DB. BUILDINGS AND HOUSES
HAVE APPROXIMATELY A 50 % CHANCE OF SURVIVAL REF.2.
171-150 (P)WORLDS LOUDEST CAR STEREOS, UP TO 80 SPEAKERS,32 CAR BATTERYS,
100,000 WATTS, 125-138 (N)
171(P) acoustic air pressure generator -ref.12
172 (N) 727, 737, 747, 757, 767 CRUSING AT 6 MILES HIGH MACH 0.84, AT THE GROUND (SEA LEVEL) LOSES AN ADDITIONAL 6 DB BECAUSE AIR DENCITY IS ONLY HALF SEA LEVEL AT A HIEGHT OF 6 MILES
172 FOG IS CREATED, DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURE, DEW POINT AND HUMIDITY
173-164 (P)BASS INJECTION TESTS, EXPIERIMENTAL ELECTROMAGNETIC TYPE SPEAKERS -REF.1.1987
173(P) = hydraulic, whole body dynamic pressure chamber, at 8 hertz -ref.11.
174 AIR BEGINS TO HEAT UP DUE TO COMPRESSION, MOST SHOCK WAVES ARE VERY HOT
174(P) LOUDSPEAKER COUPLED MANOMETER HEADPHONES DOWN TO 1 HERTZ -REF.15.
175 (N) QUARTER DYNAMITE STICK, VERY CLOSE PRESSURE MAY EXCEED 210 db (P)
175.8(P) 1 TON T.N.T. AT 250 FEET
177 (P) = 2 P.S.I., DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES ARE SIGNIFICANT, 30% SURVIVAL -REF.2.
180 (P) 1 POUND T.N.T. AT 15 FEET -REF.4.
180 (P) = 3 P.S.I., DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES IS CATASTROPHIC, WHEN A SHOCK -REF.2.
WAVE HITS A STRUCTURE ITS MOMENTUM AND PRESSURE MORE THAN DOUBLES, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER DB LEVELS, DYNAMIC WIND IS ABOUT 103 MILE / HOUR
AND CAUSES A LARGE PORTION OF DAMAGE, 15 % OBJECT SURVIVAL -REF.2.
180 (P) = MOTOR DRIVE COUPLED MANOMETER STATIC PRESSURE, 165 DB(P) UP TO 50 HERTZ, -REF.14.
182 (P) 1 TON T.N.T AT 150 FEET, EXACTLY 182.2 DB -REF.4.
183 (P) = 6 P.S.I. TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF ALL STRUCTURES, PARTICLE VELOCITY
(BLAST WIND) IS 180 MILES PER HOUR. 0.9 MILES FROM HIROSHIMA ATOMIC BOMB
AND 3.3 MILES FROM 1MEGATON NUCLEAR BOMB, LESS 0.1 % OBJECT SURVIVAL -REF.2.
185.75 (NP) 0.375 POUNDS OF T.N.T. RIECHTER -1.5
186.1(P) 1 POUND T.N.T AT DISTANCE OF 10 FEET -REF.4.
187 (P) 1 TON T.N.T. AT 100 FEET, EXACTLY 186.8 DB -REF.4.
190.60 (NP) RIECHTER SCALE 0 (ZERO) EARTHQUAKE
190.60 (NP) 2.0000 POUNDS T.N.T.
191 (N)BOMB-VERY SMALL 1 LB. OR GRENADE, VERY CLOSE PRESSURE MAY EXCEED 210 db (P)
193.806(P) = 1 KILOGRAM PER SQUARE CENTIMETER
193.979(P) = 1 BAR PRESSURE = 14.504 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH = 14.504 P.S.I.
194.09(P) = 1 (ONE) AIR ATMOSPHERE = 14.6962 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH = 14.6962 P.S.I.= 1 ATM
SOUND WAVES DISTORT AND ARE NOW DEFINED AS SHOCK WAVES AND THEY BEGIN TO FOLLOW SHOCK WAVE BEHAVIOR. PARTICLE VELOCITY (BLAST WIND) = 590 FEET / SECOND = 180 METERS PER SECOND = 402 MILES PER HOUR. -REF.2.
194.1(P)EXACTLY, 1 POUND T.N.T. AT 6 FEET -REF.4.
195-190 (P) HUMAN EARDRUMS RUPTURE 50 % OF TIME -REF.2.
195.2(P) 1 TON T.N.T. AT 60 FEET -REF.4.
200.59 (NP) 63.24 POUNDS OF T.N.T., RIECHTER SCALE 1
202-198 (P) HUMAN DEATH FROM SOUND (SHOCK) WAVE ALONE. DEATH FROM: SCHRAPNEL AT ANY LEVEL ABOVE 165 DB IS LIKELY AND BEING THROWN (10 FEET PER SECOND) ABOVE 180 DB -REF.2.
205.29(NP) 320 POUNDS OF T.N.T. RIECHTER 1.5
207 (N)BOMB, SMALL SIZED 250 POUNDS, 14 FOOT WIDE CRATER, NEARBY MAY EXCEED 238 db (P) -REF.2.
207.46 (P) = 68.48 P.S.I.= (Q), CRITICAL PRESSURE, THE SHOCK WAVE PRESSURE(P) AND DYNAMIC (BLAST WIND) PRESSURE(Q) ARE EQUAL, LOUDER THAN THIS DYNAMIC PRESSURE(Q) WILL ALWAYS BE MORE THAN SHOCK PRESSURE(P). BLAST WIND (PARTICLE VELOCITY = U) IS 1697 FEET PER SECOND = 518 METERS SECOND = 1157 MILES PER HOUR. 400 FEET FROM A 1000 TON T.N.T EXPLOSION -REF.2.
209 (N)BOMB, MEDIUM 500 POUNDS, 18 FOOT WIDE CRATER NEARBY MAY EXCEED 240 db (P) -REF.2.4.
210 N.A.S.A. 400,000 ACOUSTIC WATTS EXPIERIMENTAL NOISEMAKER 48 FEET ACROSS OF CONCRETE AND STEEL
210.6 (NP) EARTHQUAKE REICHTER SCALE 2.0
210.6 (NP) 1 TON OF T.N.T. and a 23.40 foot crater
212 (N) SONIC BOOM AVERAGE FROM JET -REF.5.
213 (N) SONIC BOOM GENERATES APPROXIMATELY 1.2 GIGAWATTS OR 1.6 MILLION HORSEPOWER -REF.1.2002
213 (N) BOMB 1 TON TNT, 23 FOOT WIDE CRATER OR 175.8 db (P) AT 250 FEET. 213.44 EXACT -REF.1.2.4.
214.09(P) = 10 atmospheres, DB(Q) BLAST WIND = 217.439 DB(Q)
215 SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH EXHAUST, APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES PER SECOND
215 (N)THUNDER, THE LARGEST POSITIVE GIANTS. ORDINARY THUNDER 165-180 DB.LIGHTNING STRIKE
ON OCEAN SURFACE 234db (P) AT 2exp-5 NEWTONS PER SQUARE METER
215 (N) BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY FIRING ALL 9 SIXTEEN INCH GUNS
216 (P) INSIDE A NORMAL CAR ENGINE CYLINDER WITH A 9 TO 1 COMPRESSION RATIO
216.0 (NP)+-0.3 DB 6.5 TONS OF T.N.T. EXACT EXTREMELY ACCURATE HIGH TECH MEASUREMENTS -REF. 8
217.439(Q) = DYNAMIC PRESSURE BLAST WIND FROM A 10 ATMOSPHERE OVERPRESSURE
218.2(NP)sonic boom F-16. at 100 feet high = 3.92 lbs.per square foot = 139.6db, +78.6db = 8536.5 meters high -REF.1.10. 2002
220 ?(N)BOMB, LARGEST USED IN WWII, WIEGHING 11 TONS AND 25 FEET LONG -REF.1.3. 2001
220 (N)SATURN 5 ROCKETSHIP, MELTS CONCRETE AND BURNS GRASS ONE MILE AWAY
REACHED A VELOCITY OF 5 MILES PER SECOND AND MOON ON JULY 20, 1969
220 ?(N)SPACE SHUTTLE LANDING SONIC BOOM WITH VELOCITY OF MACH 20 -REF.1. 1998
225 (P) INSIDE A NORMAL DIESEL MOTOR SEMI-TRUCK CYLINDER 25 TO 1 COMPRESSION
226.59 (NP) TRAIN EXPLOSION 2004 FEB 19 09:37AM NEYSHABUR, IRAN, runaway train, possible terrorism, shattered windows at 15 km.,crater is 500 feet diameter and 50 feet deep, magnitude 3.6 riechter, at several miles "the entire area shook", heard at 75 km, equal to 251.195 tons of t.n.t., 51 car train = 17 cars sulpher, 6 cars gasoline, 7 cars ammonium nitrate fertilizer (a.n.f.o.), 10 cars cotton wool, 3 left at station not involved, 8 miscellaneous loads
228.1 (P)EXACTLY. 1 POUND OF T.N.T. AT A DISTANCE OF 1 FOOT -REF.4.
229 (N) SEAFLOOR VOLCANIC ERUPTION, REFERENCE 2 EXP-5 NEWTONS PER SQUARE METER
230.59 (NP) EARTHQUAKE RIECHTER 4.0
230.59 (NP) 1000 TONS OF T.N.T.
232 (N)LARGE NON-NUCLEAR EXPLOSION, 500 TONS, 1917 DESTRUCTION OF GERMAN
WWI TUNNELS IN MESSINES RIDGE BELGIUM, HEARD OR FELT IN LONDON (N) -REF.1.,-REF.3.
234.09(P) = 100 ATMOSPHERES, BLAST WIND = 241.46 DB(Q)
235 (P) 1 TON T.N.T. AT 10 FEET, EXACTLY 235.3 DB -REF.4.
? (N)TORNADO AVERAGE, 5100 TONS OF T.N.T. -REF.1. 2004
235.19 (NP) EARTHQUAKE RIECHTER 5.0
235.19 (NP) 31624 TONS OF T.N.T.
240 (N)ONE KILOTON OF T.N.T EXPLOSIVE, 233 FOOT WIDE CRATER 29 FEET DEEP,10 P.S.I. AT 1000 FEET (P), 230 DB AT 10000 FT(N) -REF.2.
240?(N)TORNADO, FUJITSU 5, ENERGY GUESS BASED ON 300 MILE PER HOUR WIND, 1 MILE WIDE -REF.1.1997
241.46 (Q) = blast wind pressure from a 100 atm overpressure
243 (N)LARGEST NON-NUCLEAR EXPLOSION EVER, 1947 DESTRUCTION OF NAZI U-BOAT PENS
USED 7100 TONS OF EXPLOSIVE -REF.1. -REF.3.
247 (P) BOMB INSIDE SHOCK WAVE MAXIMUM LIMIT PRESSURE OF T.N.T. EXPLOSIVE -REF.2.4
248 (N)ATOMIC BOMB-HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI JAPAN AUG. 6, 9, 1945.TRAGICALLY KILLED
300,000 PEAPLE. TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED 16 SQUARE MILES, CRACKED DISTANT CONCRETE WALLS 12? THICK, EQUAL TO 20,000 TONS OF T.N.T., WIND WAS AROUND 300 MILES PER HOUR, DESTROYED WALLS 28? THICK AT 1 MILE.POWER TO MAKE A CRATER 633 FEET WIDE AND 80 FEET DEEP -REF.1.2.
254.09 (P) = 1000 atmospheres overpressure, dynamic pressure = 261.721 db(Q)
255 (N) 600 KILOTONS GROUND BURST CRATER IS 2112 FEET WIDE AND 211 FEET DEEP -REF.2.
257 (N)NUCLEAR BOMB, 1 MEGATON (1 MILLION TONS OF T.N.T.) -REF.2.
? (N)NUCLEAR BOMB "OAK" 8.9 MEGATON, ENEWETAK,JUNE 29 1958,5740 FEET WIDE 204 DEEP CRATER
261.721 (Q) = dynamic blast wind pressure generated from a 1000 atmosphere overpressure
274.09 (P) = 10000 atmospheres overpressure, dynamic pressure = 282.042 db(Q)
278 (N)NUCLEAR BOMB, ?BRAVO? TEST 15 MEGATONS, 1954, BIKINI ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS -REF.2.
? (N)METEOR HITTING EARTH, ?ARIZONA CRATER? SPEED WAS 44 MILES PER SECOND
AND ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HOUSE AND MADE A CRATER ONE MILE IN DIAMETER 20 MT T.N.T.
? (N)NUCLEAR BOMB, 20 MEGATONS, SURFACE BURST CRATER IS 7392 FEET WIDE AND 792 FEET DEEP
282 (N)NUCLEAR BOMB, 57 MEGATONS HYDROGEN LARGEST EVER DETONATED, 1961
SHOCK WAVES CIRCLED THE EARTH 3 TIMES, FIRST ORBIT TOOK 36 HR 27 MIN. -REF.2.
282.042 db(Q) = dynamic wind pressure from a 10000 atm overpressure source
286 (N)MT. SAINT HELENS VOLCANO ERUPTION-BABY VOLCANO, BLEW DOWN TREES 16
MILES AWAY. COULD BE SEEN FROM OUTER SPACE ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE
BLEW OUT SOME WINDOWS IN SEATTLE-TACOMA 200 MILES AWAY, 163 db (P) -REF.20.
294.09 (P) = 100000 atmosphere overpressure, dynamic pressure = 302.0488 db(Q)
296 (N)EARTHQUAKE 8.6 RIECHTER SCALE- GROUND MOVED UP AND DOWN 13 FEET. -REF.1.3. 1988
300 (N)HURRICANE ? AVERAGE, EXTREME ENERGY IS ?DILUTED? BY COVERING 500,000
SQUARE MILES. ENERGY = APPROX. 1000 NUCLEAR BOMBS A SECOND.
302?(N) TUNGUSTA SIBERIA METEOR, BLEW DOWN HOUSES 600 MILES AWAY -REF.1.3. 1989
302.0488 db(Q) = dynamic pressure from a 100000 atmospheres overpressure
310 (N)KRAKATOA VOLCANO ERUPTION-1883 A.D., CRACKED ONE FOOT THICK CONCRETE
AT 300 MILES, CREATED A 3000 FOOT TIDAL WAVE, HEARD 3100 MILES AWAY,
SOUND PRESSURE CAUSED BAROMETERS TO FLUCTUATE WILDLY AT 100 MILES
INDICATING LEVELS OF AT LEAST 170-190 DB (P) AT THIS DISTANCE OF 100 MILES
EVEN WHEN SHOUTING IN SOMEONES EAR, COULD NOT BE HEARD AT 100 MILES
CAUSED FOG TO APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR INSTANTLY AT HUNDREDS OF MILES
ROCKS WERE THROWN TO A HIEGHT OF 34 MILES. DUST AND DEBRIS FELL CONTINOUSLY FOR 10 DAYS AFTER BLAST. PRODUCED VERY COLORFUL SUNSETS FOR ONE YEAR, EJECTED 4 CUBIC MILES OF
THE EARTH. CREATED ANTI-NODE OF NEGATIVE PRESSURE AT THE EXACT OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE EARTH.SOUND COVERED 1 / 10 OF THE WORLDS SURFACE, SHOCK (SOUND) WAVES ?ECHOED? AROUND THE EARTH 36 TIMES AND LASTED FOR ABOUT A MONTH! -REF.19.
316 (N)VOLCANO ERUPTION SORANTINI, ITALY,1470 B.C. ALTHOUGH MORE ENERGY THAN KRAKATOA, IT BLEW UP OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF DAYS AND NOT AS VIOLENTLY, HENCE THE INSTANT PEAK PRESSURE IS BELIEVED TO BE LOWER -REF.1.3.
THAN KRAKATOA. 15 CUBIC MILES EJECTED, CREATED TIDAL WAVE 165 FEET
HIGH AT A DISTANCE OF 80 MILES -REF.3.
320 (N)VOLCANO ERUPTION, TAMBORA INDONESIA,1815, EJECTED 36 CUBIC MILES.APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO
14,000 MEGATON NUCLEAR BOMBS OR A 14 GIGATON BOMB BASED ON EJECTED VOLUME,CHANGE IN MEGATONS TIMES 1.345 EQUALS VOLUME EJECTED CHANGE.IF WAS A NUCLEAR BOMB IT WOULD CREATE A CRATER ABOUT 12.4 MILES WIDE AND 1.33 MILES DEEP.INTERNAL PRESSURE IS BELIEVED TO BE ABOUT 47 MILLION P.S.I. = 347 DB (P) -REF.1.3.
Here's a slightly more complete listing of dB levels.. bear in mind, that 197dB produces absolute vacuum on the rarification, so waves become assymetrical above that level: http://makeitlouder.com/Decibel%20Level%20Chart.txt
Many years ago, I attended an outdoors Jethro Tull concert. For some reason, the event was held right under the flight path of a major airport. Tull decided about half way through to see if he and the group could drone out the planes, which he proceeded to do easily
My ears burned for a week and we were about 150 yards from the stage!!
BTW, If you want to see or hear speakers that can get a little loud go here: http://www.lradx.com/site/
My ears burned for a week and we were about 150 yards from the stage!!
BTW, If you want to see or hear speakers that can get a little loud go here: http://www.lradx.com/site/
Dear Audioguy: In audio I think that: " how loud is to loud? " depend too on : how high are the distortions on the audio/music we are hearing. I mean the own audio system distortions. As lower those distortions as higher the SPL limit we can achieve with out ear damage.
System own distortions not only affect the quality of what we are hearing but affect the way we percive the system sound reproduction and certainly the SPL we accustom to hear that system.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
Distortion from the human ear is a frequent problem for me. Earplugs help a lot. Get the body jarring sensation without the garbled sound of flatulating eardrums.
One time when I was doing a 'rattle test' to look for things that were in need of rubber grommet treatments, I was running a 10Hz sine wave at about 105dB. It was nearly inaudible, but whenever I spoke, my voice was garbled, so I was aware of the presence of the tone and the fact that hearing is subject to intermod distortion.
One time when I was doing a 'rattle test' to look for things that were in need of rubber grommet treatments, I was running a 10Hz sine wave at about 105dB. It was nearly inaudible, but whenever I spoke, my voice was garbled, so I was aware of the presence of the tone and the fact that hearing is subject to intermod distortion.
The emphasis is mine... That is a wrong assertion. The overall loudness level (and to a lesser extent the frequency of the sound signal) is what cause ear damage. Not the distortion. It is true that distortion can add to the sense of malaise but a clean 120 dB sound at say 2000 Hz witth .0000000000001 THD will cause the same damage as another 2000 Hz with 10% THD ... One needs to be careful with the volume control , especially with systems capable of very high clean (low distortion) output... The lack of distortion is almost a danger... A system capable of playing loud with no distortion allows its owners to play loud, almost invite him/her to do so.
Protect your ears, watch the level at which you're playing if it is consistently over 100 dB you are damaging your ears and this, permanently.
I concur with Frantz, especially about the lack of distortion being a potential danger. Without the rough stuff it can be extremely tempting to keep cranking up the levels more and more.
AFAIC, the best way to cheat or to seem to have higher SPL than you might equate with loudness, is to bring the room's acoustic noise floor as low as you possibly can without it sounding uncomfortable on it's own.
AFAIC, the best way to cheat or to seem to have higher SPL than you might equate with loudness, is to bring the room's acoustic noise floor as low as you possibly can without it sounding uncomfortable on it's own.
Spot on.
As I've built up my system over the years striving for the magical mix of low distortion at high levels, I realize it's ever easier to be playing too loud for too long.
But having the ability to cleanly play loud at very low THD is critical to musical realism.
Having an SPL meter handy and keeping track of duration of exposure is key to preservation of hearing.
Almost everyone who comes to hear my system wants to crank it up. Apparently, a system with good low-level detail is a rare thing. I think that 70-80dB average at the listening position is just fine if the room is quiet.
When listening to open headphones, I judge the loudness relative to the background noise. I never initially start the player wearing the headphones. On the subway or in an airplane, I use in-ear monitors which greatly reduce the background. To make it truly quiet (spooky) I sometime wear noise cancelling headphones over the iem's. The noise-cancelling headphones take out the lower frequencies and the iem's the highs. Very, very effective.
For going to rock concerts I have Etymotic 20dB frequency-compensated attenuators.
When listening to open headphones, I judge the loudness relative to the background noise. I never initially start the player wearing the headphones. On the subway or in an airplane, I use in-ear monitors which greatly reduce the background. To make it truly quiet (spooky) I sometime wear noise cancelling headphones over the iem's. The noise-cancelling headphones take out the lower frequencies and the iem's the highs. Very, very effective.
For going to rock concerts I have Etymotic 20dB frequency-compensated attenuators.
Similar threads
 | Steve Williams Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator |  | Ron Resnick Site Co-Owner | Administrator |  | Julian (The Fixer) Website Build | Marketing Managersing |