Which of the following statements is/are true about sound and decibels?

AThe decibel (dB) is the unit used to measure the intensity of a sound

BThe smallest audible sound is 0 dB; a sound 100 times more powerful is 20 dB and 1000 times more powerful is 30 dB

CAny sound above 85 dB can cause hearing loss, related both to the power of the sound and the length of exposure

DAll of the above statements are true ✓ Correct

Correct answer: (D) All of the above statements are true

Explanation

The decibel is the unit used to measure the intensity of sound, which is correct.

The faintest audible sound is zero decibels, with tenfold steps giving twenty and thirty decibels, which is correct.

Sound above eighty-five decibels can cause hearing loss depending on power and exposure time, which is correct.

The decibel scale is logarithmic, so each ten-unit rise means a tenfold jump in intensity.

Each of these descriptions about sound and decibels holds true.

Continuous exposure to traffic or industrial noise is a common cause of hearing damage.

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