Answer :
Final answer:
When two identical sound sources operate together, the total sound intensity level increases by about 3 dB compared to the level of one source alone.
Explanation:
The question revolves around the concept of sound intensity levels and how they add together when there are multiple sources of sound.
When two identical machines with sound level L1 each are running side by side, the total sound level Ltotal is not simply the sum of the individual levels, but instead, the sound intensities add up.
Given that a doubling of sound intensity results in an increase of approximately 3 dB, the total sound level would be 3 dB greater than the sound level of a single machine. This increment is due to the logarithmic nature of the decibel scale, which measures sound intensity.
Sound intensity, also known as acoustic intensity, is defined as the power carried by sound waves per unit area in a direction perpendicular to that area. The SI unit of intensity, which includes sound intensity, is the watt per square meter.
