The decibel (dB) is used to measure sound level. The decibel scale is a bit strange because of the sensitivity of the human ear which can pick up everything from the sound of a fingertip brushing lightly over the skin to the sound of a loud jet engine - quite a difference!
| DB | General | Product |
|---|---|---|
| 10 dB | Barely audible | Light Strip Amplifier |
| 20 dB | Rustling leaves, mosquito | Light Pull Switch |
| 30 dB | Whisper | CCTV DVR |
| 40 dB | Bird Call | Extractor Fan |
| 50 dB | Quiet office | Refridgerator |
| 60 dB | Normal conversation | Hair Clippers |
| 65 dB | Laughter | Dishwasher |
| 70 dB | Background Conversation In A Restaurant | Air Conditioner/De-Humidifier |
| 75 dB | Car Driven At 65MPH | Vacuum |
| 78 dB | Washing Machine | Hair Dryer |
| 80 dB | Car Wash At 20 Feet | Soup Maker |
| 85 dB | Diesel Truck At 40MPH | Blender |
| 90 dB | Motorcycle At 25Ft | Electronic Alarm |
| 85-90 dB | Lawnmower | Intruder Alarm |
| 100 dB | Tractor | handheld drill |
| 105 dB | Aircraft Before Landing | External Sounder |
| 110 dB | Power Saw | Jackhammer |
| 120 dB | Thunderclap | Chainsaw |
| 125 dB | Drums | Car Horn |
| 128 dB | Marching Band | Loudest Human Scream |
| 130 dB | DJ System | Self Defence Keychain |
| 140 dB | Threshold Of Pain | Alarm Siren |
Did you know - The world's loudest sound was the sound made by Krakatoa when it erupted in 1883. It was so loud that it ruptured eardrums of people 40 miles away, travelled around the world four times and was clearly heard 3,000 miles away
And...... Nuclear explosions are amongst the loudest phenomena on Earth. Their loudness ranges roughly from 240 dB to over 280 dB - only big volcanic eruptions are louder!
So, what's the quietest sound in the world? - Scientists at Orfield Labs, Minneapolis have found that by studying how subjects react in their anechoic chamber (also known as the world's quietest room) that the sound level in the room, which actually has the Guinness World Record, is -9 decibels, compared to the average "quiet" room's 30.