How Loud Can Sound Physically Get?

A simple question with a potentially existential answer 😂

(yes! I know, I forgot the pdf of fluid to gas notes, I'll upload shortly)

0:00 - The question
0:55 - How to measure
2:45 - Pressure waves
3:54 - Logarithmic scales
4:53 - Weber-Fechner Law
6:42 - Physical damage
8:05 - The Loudest Sound In History
9:45 - Whales actually aren't that loud
11:01 - You're a wave anyway

#physics #audioscience #synthesizers

[ThaBeatConductor]

My favorite sound factoid has to do with rocket launches. The pads at Cape Canaveral have these MASSIVE water pump systems on them that flood the launch pad with thousands of tons of water as a rocket takes off. Not because the heat from the exhaust of the rocket might melt the concrete, but because the "sound" is so loud that it would actually liquefy the concrete just from sheer pressure waves if there wasn't that much water present.

[jaspertandy]

One thing that really struck me about this video is what an amazing job you did recording your voice so that it sounds consistent in different environments. The first few scenes were quite jarring as I was trying to figure out if you'd recorded your voice indoors and were miming outdoors, but then decided that was silly. Super interesting video - thanks for making it.

[astrolopitekos]

The “loud distorted voice with noise” vs “soft voice with no bg noise” bit was really cool. Great video!

[BKT]

In some dreams (or actually more dream-like experiences like sleep paralysis and DMT trips) I've heard some incredibly loud sounds, it felt like somebody was tearing the world apart.
Somewhat terrifying when it happened, but also wonderful to be able to experience such extreme sounds without destroying your ears :D

[GeorgeCollier]

Stumbled across this channel, now I'm glad I get to watch all your other videos!

[ihopethis]

Man, the sound science content on this channel is always so fascinating and super interesting, amazing as always Benn

[ucdwino]

Just found this…. And subscribed. Probably less interested in “synth stuff” but the deep dive into science was so done much better than most media outlets…. You handle technical issues without dumbing them down OR getting boring… pretty rare… keep it up!

[JordonBeal]

I got into audio as many of us do, through music. But stuff like this is what keeps me interested. It’s so endlessly fascinating, and I could (and do) get stuck in the scientific minutia for hours. Great video, Benn!

[The.Talent]

I’ve never seen this channel before. YT just decided to recommend it to me today. I was quite impressed with the combination of quality, scientific skepticism, and clear explanations… right up until about 11:15. Then there was a duck and all of a sudden, I’d somehow hit the subscribe button without realising that I was doing it.

I’m not even mad.

[KristofferLislegaard]

"Whever try to I break free from the pro audio or synth stuff[...]" it is always freaking amazing! Please keep doing these great videos! But also make sure not to die out on sea.

[JaysonStork]

wow man, this channel is amazing. How is it only now ending up in my feed?! Thank you for your time and sharing your experience.

[adamkruschwitz]

I studied audio engineering for 2 years in college, but we never went into the physics deeper than enough to know how a microphone works. This was really fascinating!

[laurenpinschannels]

clarification I thought would be helpful: "decibels" is a generic magnitude term, the typical implication and I think the one benn meant through most of the video was decibels of sounds pressure level, dB SPL. sound pressure level is a formally defined measurement of pressure amplitude. another you see a lot is decibels full scale, dB FS - that's what's in your DAW; 0 means "maximum displacement" in that context.

[etangrun]

You have some of the best science videos out there. Really excellent content. Thank you for taking the time to explain these things.

[Cloroqx]

Thank you for taking the time to do this video, Benn!

[RobertTamaskovics]

This is the first time I have seen any of your videos and I am mesmerised. I was raised like this. My father was a math and physics teacher, so he always explained the simplest things in a way that after the answer we were even more confused, but still we thought, he is omniscient. Subscribed.

[feeberizer]

The two loudest sounds I've heard were the Concorde at Heathrow Airport in the UK and the SR71 at Paine Field in Everett in Washington state. I was inside a plane on the taxiway when the pilot announced that Concorde would be taking off next. I plugged my ears and felt my chest and the plane rattling. I'm thankful I wasn't outside like I was for the SR71 years later. Not only did it take off, but it did a "dirty" fly-by with the gear down and then a faster one with gear up. My whole body was rattling and it felt like someone was standing on my chest. I could barely breathe, but I still screamed with the enthusiasm of a little kid.

[bradkerr]

Fantastic the way you build in the practical demos, like a great chem or physics high school teacher. The distorted yelling vs whisper in particular, and reminds me of how a 70dB clock radio sounds deafening and yet on good headphones you have to be very careful because no matter the volume, they never sound loud/harsh.

[Dana__black]

Yo no 🧢 this is one of the most entertaining yet informative video I’ve seen in a long time

[gasolineandwine]

The duck at the end made my day ❤ I absolutely love these type of videos, ever since you made the video on sonic weapons, I've been hooked on these topics and your brand of presentation. Hope there'll be more in the future!