θ is the angle between the direction of propagation of the sound and the normal to the surface.
For example, a sound at SPL = 85 dB or p = 0.356 Pa in air (ρ = 1.2 kg·m−3 and c = 343 m·s−1) through a surface of area A = 1 m2 normal to the direction of propagation (θ = 0 °) has a sound energy flux P = 0.3 mW.
This is the parameter one would be interested in when converting noise back into usable energy, along with any losses in the capturing device.
Table of selected sound sources
Maximum sound power level (LWA) related to a portable air compressor.
Sound power level (SWL) or acoustic power level is a logarithmic measure of the power of a sound relative to a reference value.
Sound power level, denoted LW and measured in dB, is defined by[3]
The commonly used reference sound power in air is[4]
The proper notations for sound power level using this reference are LW/(1 pW)orLW (re 1 pW), but the suffix notations dB SWL, dB(SWL), dBSWL, or dBSWL are very common, even if they are not accepted by the SI.[5]
The reference sound power P0 is defined as the sound power with the reference sound intensity I0 = 1 pW/m2 passing through a surface of area A0 = 1 m2:
hence the reference value P0 = 1 pW.
Relationship with sound pressure level
The generic calculation of sound power from sound pressure is as follows:
where:
defines the area of a surface that wholly encompasses the source. This surface may be any shape, but it must fully enclose the source.
In the case of a sound source located in free field positioned over a reflecting plane (i.e. the ground), in air at ambient temperature, the sound power level at distance r from the sound source is approximately related to sound pressure level (SPL) by[6]
where
Lp is the sound pressure level;
A0 = 1 m2;
defines the surface area of a hemisphere; and
r must be sufficient that the hemisphere fully encloses the source.
and since by definition I0 = p02/z0, where p0 = 20 μPa is the reference sound pressure,
The sound power estimated practically does not depend on distance. The sound pressure used in the calculation may be affected by distance due to viscous effects in the propagation of sound unless this is accounted for.
^Ross Roeser, Michael Valente, Audiology: Diagnosis (Thieme 2007), p. 240.
^Thompson, A. and Taylor, B. N. sec 8.7, "Logarithmic quantities and units: level, neper, bel", Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI) 2008 Edition, NIST Special Publication 811, 2nd printing (November 2008), SP811 PDF
^Chadderton, David V. Building services engineering, pp. 301, 306, 309, 322. Taylor & Francis, 2004. ISBN0-415-31535-2