ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Sound intensity level

Sound intensity level is a way to measure how loud a sound is. This measurement tells you how much power the sound has and how far away you can hear it.

Imagine you're at home and your big brother decides to play his music really loud. The sound from his music travels through the air and hits your ears, making them vibrate. The amount of power in those sound waves that hit your ears is what determines how loud the music is.

Intensity level is measured in something called decibels (dB). A whisper is around 20 dB, normal conversation is around 60 dB, and a jet engine is around 120 dB. The louder the sound, the more decibels it has.

Now, let's say you and your friend are at the park and you're both shouting to each other. You might be able to hear each other easily because you're right next to each other, but someone across the park might not be able to hear you as well because the sound has to travel farther. The intensity level of the sound decreases as it travels farther away.

In summary, sound intensity level is a measurement of how loud a sound is, measured in decibels. It tells you how much power the sound has and how far away you can still hear it.