Acoustic pressure

Acoustic pressure is a physical quantity that describes the pressure of sound waves on a surface. It is a change in pressure caused by the fluctuation of the molecules of the medium in which the sound propagates. Acoustic pressure is one of the key characteristics of sound and is measured in pascals (Pa).

Definition of sound pressure: Sound pressure (denoted by the letter p) is defined as a force that acts perpendicularly to a unit area with respect to the direction of sound propagation. It expresses how strongly sound waves affect a given surface.

Sound pressure distributions:

Mean sound pressure (rms pressure): Mean sound pressure, referred to as rms pressure, is the time-averaged sound pressure used to evaluate the sound level. It expresses the mean pressure value during a certain time interval.

Maximum acoustic pressure (peak pressure): Maximum acoustic pressure, referred to as peak pressure, represents the maximum pressure value that a sound wave reaches. This may be due to impulse or temporary shock sounds.

Minimum sound pressure: The minimum sound pressure is the lowest value of pressure that a sound wave can reach.

Sound pressure is measured using sound meters, known as decibel meters, which convert pressure waves into a sound level expressed in decibels (dB). This data is useful when measuring sound volume and intensity, for example when evaluating the loudness of different environments or when determining compliance with noise levels in industrial or living environments.