A crying baby emits sound with an intensity of 8.0 * 10-8 w/m2. calculate a reasonable estimate for the intensity level from a set of quintuplets (five babies), all crying simultaneously at the same place? the lowest detectable intensity is 1.0 * 10-12 w/m2.

Sound intensity of 1 baby, I = 8*10^-8 W/m^2

The sound heard should be higher by:

10*log (n) where for 5 babies, n = 5. Then

10*log (n) = 10*log (5) ≈ 7 dB

Also give is the reference sound, Io = 1.0*10^-12 W/m^2

Therefore,

Sound intensity, L1 = 10*log (I/I1) = 10*log [ (8*10^-8) / (1*10^-12) ] ≈ 49 dB

Therefore, total intensity for the five babies is:

Total intensity = 49+7 = 56 dB