Why is cumulative sound louder?

252 viewsOtherPhysics

This is definitely stupid, think I’m missing something.

If I say something at 60 decibels for example, the person I’m talking to will hear it at that volume (ignoring the sound lost over distance).

But if a crowd of people say something at 60 decibels, it will be louder to the person hearing it.

I just can’t get my head around why, since they’re all talking at the same volume as the single person. What amplifies it?

In: Physics

7 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Imagine one person in a pool. They start splashing and making waves. Those waves will bounce up to a certain height.

Now imagine someone else joins him, and starts splashing at the same time. The waves will bounce higher and more forcefully when he does it too.

Speaking is splashing waves in the air.

You are viewing 1 out of 7 answers, click here to view all answers.