inverse square law

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(n.) A law of acoustics pertaining to the dissipation of sound waves. Sound propagates in all directions to form a spherical field, thus sound energy is inversely proportional to the square of the distance it travels. Doubling the distance it travels quarters the sound energy that remains. According to the inverse square law, the sound pressure level (SPL) is attenuated 6 dB each time the distance it travels is doubled.

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