Bel: meaning, definitions and examples
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bel
[ bɛl ]
bell sound
A 'bel' is a unit of measurement for sound intensity, often used to express the difference in sound levels in a logarithmic scale. One bel is equal to 10 decibels, which helps in quantifying the intensity of sound. It is primarily utilized in fields dealing with acoustics and audio engineering.
Synonyms
decibel, sound unit
Examples of usage
- The sound of the church bel could be heard from miles away.
- She measured the sound intensity in bels during the concert.
- The device operates at a bel level significantly lower than the previous model.
Word origin
The term 'bel' is named after Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone and a pioneer in the field of telecommunications. In the early 20th century, Bell made significant contributions to the understanding of sound and its propagation. The bel was introduced as a practical way to express the logarithmic scale of sound intensity, as measuring sound in linear units proved difficult in practical applications. Although the bel is a standard unit, the decibel (dB), which is one-tenth of a bel, has become the more commonly used measure due to its more manageable numerical values. The concept behind using a logarithmic scale is based on the human perception of sound, as we perceive changes in loudness in a non-linear manner. This development signifies the intersection of physics, engineering, and human experience in understanding sound.