Sound pressure p (or acoustic pressure) is the measurement in pascals of the root mean square (RMS) pressure deviation (from atmospheric pressure) caused by a sound wave passing through a fixed point. The symbol for pressure is the lower case p. (The upper case P is the symbol for power. This is often misprinted.)

The amplitude of sound pressure from a point source decreases in the free field (direct field) proportional to the inverse of the distance from that source. Sound pressure level is a decibel scale based on a reference sound pressure of 20 µPa (micropascals), calculated in dB as:

This is written "dB (SPL)".

p₀: Reference sound pressure of 2 × 10^-5 Pa = 20 µPa

Sound pressure p in N/m² or Pa is:

Z: acoustic impedance, sound impedance, or characteristic impedance, in Pa·s/m

v: particle velocity in m/s

J: acoustic intensity or sound intensity, in W/m²

Sound pressure p is connected to particle displacement (or particle amplitude) ξ, in m, by:

Sound pressure p:

normally in units of N/m² = Pa.

where:

p: sound pressure, in N/m² = Pa

f: frequency, in Hz

ρ: density of air, in kg/m³

c: speed of sound, in m/s

v: sound velocity, in m/s

ω: angular frequency = 2π·f

ξ: particle displacement (particle amplitude), in m

Z: acoustic impedance (characteristic impedance) = c · ρ, in Pa·s/m

a: particle acceleration, in m/s²

E or w sound energy density, in J/m³

P_ac sound power or acoustic power, in W

A area, in m²

Note: The often used term "intensity of sound pressure" is not correct. Use "magnitude", "strength", "amplitude", or "level" instead. "Sound intensity" is sound power per unit area, while "pressure" is a measure of force per unit area. Intensity is not equivalent to pressure.

See also

• Sound pressure level
• Sound intensity

External links

• Ohm's law of the acoustics - calculations
• Conversion: sound pressure to sound pressure level