Noise, Damage and Protection

Lab Brief #6

🎯 Your mission

Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.

⚡ The twist

Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.

What you'll learn

Sound intensity is measured in decibels on a logarithmic scale, so 90 dB carries ten times the intensity of 80 dB. Sustained exposure above about 85 dB damages hair cells permanently — they do not regrow, which is why hearing loss from noise is irreversible.

Key words

logarithmic scale
A scale on which each equal step multiplies rather than adds.
hearing protection
Equipment that reduces the sound intensity reaching the ear.

Make a hypothesis first

Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Get ready

🧰 What you need

phone with sound level meter app
notebook

⚠️ Safety first

Do not stay in any environment you measure above 85 dB.
Never raise headphone volume to test the top of the scale.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Think about what you just learned: say what "logarithmic scale" and "hearing protection" mean in your own words before you start.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Use a phone sound-level app to log decibel readings in six places: a quiet room, a classroom, a busy street, a canteen, headphones at half volume, and headphones at full volume. Flag every reading above 85 dB.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Question 1 of 2

An increase of 10 dB corresponds to an intensity increase of:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 2

Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent because hair cells:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 2 right.

All lessons

🎯

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✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”

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