Understanding Changes in Sound Intensity Level with Different Masking Configurations Used To Prevent Spread of Respiratory Illness

Max BergFollow

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Physics

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

Many people, across a variety of settings, utilize face masks as a form of personal protective equipment (PPE) against respiratory diseases. Immunocompromised individuals commonly wear more than one mask together to improve this protection against airborne particles. Communication issues have been noted across previous research in common masks due to their natural acoustics. The goal of this study was to understand change in sound intensity level (dB) from different masking configurations (single and double surgical mask, surgical mask with cloth mask, surgical mask with N95 mask) at frequencies of vowel formants (peaks in amplitude of the human voice that help define tone). It was hypothesized that at all three frequencies (280, 1030, 1920 Hz), the cloth mask with surgical mask would have the lowest sound intensity level. To test this, a model head was used with a speaker and microphone, and the sound intensity level was recorded using the Praat software. A two-way ANOVA test showed that the interaction between masking configuration and frequency had a significant impact on the sound intensity level, F(6, 348) = 393.23, p<.001. Simple main effects tests revealed that both masking and frequency held a significant effect on the sound intensity level, p<.001 for both tests. It was concluded, therefore, that the masking configurations utilized in the study led to significant decreases in the sound intensity level compared to a single surgical mask. The hypothesis was not supported by the collected data, as the cloth mask with surgical mask did not have the lowest sound intensity level for two of the frequencies.

Location

RITA 365

Start Date

3-23-2024 9:45 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 23rd, 9:45 AM

Understanding Changes in Sound Intensity Level with Different Masking Configurations Used To Prevent Spread of Respiratory Illness

RITA 365

Many people, across a variety of settings, utilize face masks as a form of personal protective equipment (PPE) against respiratory diseases. Immunocompromised individuals commonly wear more than one mask together to improve this protection against airborne particles. Communication issues have been noted across previous research in common masks due to their natural acoustics. The goal of this study was to understand change in sound intensity level (dB) from different masking configurations (single and double surgical mask, surgical mask with cloth mask, surgical mask with N95 mask) at frequencies of vowel formants (peaks in amplitude of the human voice that help define tone). It was hypothesized that at all three frequencies (280, 1030, 1920 Hz), the cloth mask with surgical mask would have the lowest sound intensity level. To test this, a model head was used with a speaker and microphone, and the sound intensity level was recorded using the Praat software. A two-way ANOVA test showed that the interaction between masking configuration and frequency had a significant impact on the sound intensity level, F(6, 348) = 393.23, p<.001. Simple main effects tests revealed that both masking and frequency held a significant effect on the sound intensity level, p<.001 for both tests. It was concluded, therefore, that the masking configurations utilized in the study led to significant decreases in the sound intensity level compared to a single surgical mask. The hypothesis was not supported by the collected data, as the cloth mask with surgical mask did not have the lowest sound intensity level for two of the frequencies.