decibels (dB)

Decibels (dB) are units used to measure the intensity or level of sound, signal strength, or power relative to a reference point. They are logarithmic, meaning an increase of 10 dB represents a tenfold increase in intensity, while a decrease of 10 dB corresponds to a tenfold reduction. For example, a whisper is around 30 dB, normal conversation is about 60 dB, and a jet engine can reach 120 dB. This scale helps compare sounds or signals across vast ranges efficiently, emphasizing relative differences rather than absolute values.