What unit is commonly used to measure the pressure level of sound waves?

The decibel is the unit commonly used to measure the pressure level of sound waves. This logarithmic scale allows us to express sound intensity in a way that corresponds more closely to human perception of loudness. For instance, an increase of 10 decibels represents a tenfold increase in sound intensity, which significantly aids in understanding differences in loudness that can be perceived by the human ear.

In contrast, hertz refers specifically to the frequency of sound waves, indicating how many cycles per second occur, which relates to pitch rather than pressure. Pascals are a unit of pressure used in various scientific contexts, including sound pressure but not typically for the pressure level in auditory terms. Voltage is related to electrical potential and is not relevant for measuring sound pressure levels. Therefore, the use of decibels is standard in fields such as acoustics and audio engineering because it provides a meaningful context for understanding sound levels in relation to human hearing.