A decibel is a complicated thing (just read the wikipedia definition) but for our purposes here it is a measure of loudness. It measures power & intensity - in this case, the power & intensity of sound. When we speak to each other, for example, unless we have no indoor voice, we speak at around 60 decibels, or 60 dB. (Technically, it's dB(A), but I am a layperson & I will assume I'm not addressing an audio engineer or other smarty-pants in the world of sound measurement.) How does that compare with other sounds we hear?
The noise of a rocket taking off is 180 dB. A public library when the librarian is doing his or her job, 40 dB.
An air raid siren is about 130 dB. Leaves rustling, 30 dB.
Your typical night club is pretty loud at 110 dB. Your typical office, around 50 dB.
Oh, an important one for radio listeners: "amplified rock music" can be from 110 to 130 dB. A noisy restaurant is 70 dB.
A screaming child is as loud as a lawn mower is an loud as a "passing motorcycle": 90 dB.
You're lucky, though. You can control the volume knob on your radio. Self Help Radio need only be as loud as you want it to be. Some people, it must be said, turn it all the way down.
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