Which factors affect the intensity of the sound wave measured by a detector?

The intensity of a sound wave measured by a detector is influenced significantly by the surface area of the detector and the distance from the source of the sound wave.

When considering the surface area of the detector, it is important to recognize that a larger surface area can capture more sound wave energy, leading to a higher intensity measurement. Conversely, a smaller surface area would gather less energy from the sound waves, resulting in a lower intensity reading.

Distance from the source also plays a critical role in sound intensity. Sound waves disperse as they travel further from the source, leading to a decrease in intensity with increasing distance. This phenomenon is described by the inverse square law, which states that intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. Thus, as the distance increases, the intensity decreases, and this can be quantitatively measured by the detector.

While factors like frequency, temperature of the air, and humidity can influence the propagation and characteristics of sound, they do not directly affect the measurement of intensity in the same way that surface area and distance do. Frequency affects pitch but not intensity per se, while temperature and humidity can impact sound speed and attenuation but not the fundamental intensity captured by a detector relative to its area and distance from the