gen-explain-sound-intensity-and-the-inverse-square-law-as-you-wo-7ad1

Explain sound intensity and the inverse-square law as you would to a capable student, in 3-4 sentences.

# Sound Intensity and the Inverse-Square Law Sound intensity is the amount of sound energy passing through a given area per second, measured in watts per square meter (W/m²). As sound waves spread out from a source, they form an expanding sphere, so the same total energy gets distributed over an increasingly larger surface area. This leads to the **inverse-square law**: when you double your distance from a sound source, the intensity decreases to one-quarter (1/2² = 1/4) of its original value because the surface area of a sphere increases with the square of the radius. In practical terms, this is why a conversation sounds much quieter from across a room than up close—the sound energy spreads out and becomes less concentrated as it travels.