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5
Making Connections: Logarithmic
Scales in the Physical Sciences
The number of hydronium ions in a typical substance indicates
how acidic or alkaline it is. Amounts can range from about
1 1015 mol/L (moles per litre) to 0.1 mol/L. In order to
make it easier to compare such a vast range of quantities,
logarithms are used. What effect does this have?
Example 1 pH Scale
The pH scale is used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a chemical CONNECTIONS
solution. It is defined as pH log [H], where [H] is the concentration You will learn more about pH,
of hydronium ions, measured in moles per litre. acids, and bases if you study
chemistry.
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Solution
a) To find the pH of tomato juice, substitute its hydronium ion concentration
into the equation.
pH log [H]
log 0.0001
(4)
4
The pH of tomato juice is 4.
6.5 Making Connections: Logarithmic Scales in the Physical Sciences • MHR 349
b) Substitute the hydronium ion concentration of blood into the equation, and
use a scientific or graphing calculator to evaluate the common logarithm.
pH log [H]
log (4 107)
⬟ 6.4
Blood has a pH of approximately 6.4, which is below the neutral value
of 7.0. Therefore, blood is acidic.
c) The pH of orange juice is given. To find its concentration of hydronium
ions, rearrange the equation to express it in terms of [H].
pH log [H]
pH log [H] Multiply both sides by 1.
10pH [H] Rewrite in exponential form.
Substitute the known pH and solve for [H].
[H] 103
0.001
Therefore, the hydronium ion concentration in orange juice is 0.001 mol/L.
d) The pH and hydronium ion concentrations in tomato juice and orange
juice are summarized in the table.
Tomato Juice Orange Juice
pH 4 3
Hydronium Ion
0.0001 0.001
Concentration (mol/L)
CONNECTIONS There are several other areas in which logarithmic scales are applied in the
A decibel is equal to one tenth physical sciences. For example, how the human ear perceives sound intensity
of a bel (B). can be described using a logarithmic scale. The decibel scale provides a
convenient way of comparing sound levels that range over several orders of
magnitude. Each increase of 10 decibels (dB) represents a tenfold increase in
sound intensity, or loudness.
()I
2 1 10 log _2 , where 2 1 is the
I1
I
Rock concert speaker 150
Pain threshold
Solution
a) Substitute the given decibel levels for a normal conversation and a
whisper, and solve for the ratio of their sound intensities.
I
()
2 1 10 log _2
I1
I
()
60 30 10 log _2
I1
I
()
30 10 log _2
I1
I
3 log _2
I1() I2
Solve for _ .
I1
I
103 _2 Rewrite in exponential form.
I1
I
1000 _2
I1
The ratio of these intensities is 1000. This means that to the human ear,
a normal conversation sounds 1000 times as intense as a whisper!
6.5 Making Connections: Logarithmic Scales in the Physical Sciences • MHR 351
b) The ratio of the intensity of the sound while riding a snowmobile to the
intensity of the sound of normal city traffic is given as 32. Substitute this
and the given decibel level for normal city traffic into the equation and
solve for the decibel level of the sound while riding a snowmobile.
2 1 10 log _2
I
I1 ()
2 85 10 log 32
2 10 log 32 85
2 ⬟ 100
The sound level while riding a snowmobile is approximately 100 dB.
Solution
I:
a) Substitute M 2.4 into the equation and solve for _
I0
M log _
()I
I0
( II )
2.4 log _
0
102.4 I
_ Rewrite in exponential form.
I0
I
251.19 ⬟ _
I0
An earthquake measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale is approximately
251 times as intense as a standard earthquake.
I 1000 and solve for M:
b) Substitute _
I0
I
M log _
I0 ()
log 1000
3
An earthquake that is 1000 times as intense as a standard earthquake
has a magnitude of 3.
()I
the equation 2 1 10 log _2 , where I1 and I2 are the intensities
I1
of the two sounds, in watts per square metre.
A Practise
For help with questions 1 to 5, refer to Example 1. 5. Use Technology Acetic acid (vinegar)
1. Determine the pH of a solution with each has a hydronium ion concentration of
hydronium ion concentration. 1.9 103 mol/L. Suppose you want to
a) 0.01 b) 0.000 034 use a graphing calculator to view the graph
of the pH function.
c) 109 d) 1.5 1010
Reasoning and Proving
2. Determine the hydronium ion concentration,
Representing Selecting Tools
in moles per litre, of a solution with each pH.
Problem Solving
a) 11 b) 3
Connecting Reflecting
c) 8.5 d) 4.4 Communicating
6.5 Making Connections: Logarithmic Scales in the Physical Sciences • MHR 353
For help with questions 6 to 8, refer to Example 2. 8. The sound intensity of a pin drop is about
__ 1
6. How many times as intense is the sound of a of the sound intensity of a normal
30 000
shout as the sound of a
conversation. What is the decibel level of a
a) conversation b) whisper pin drop?
7. A loud car stereo has a decibel level of 110 dB.
How many times as intense as the sound of
a loud car stereo is the sound of a rock
concert speaker?
()
absolute terms, and by how much?
b
m2 m1 log _1 , b) Compare this result with your answer to
b2
question 12a). What does this suggest about
where m1 and m2 are the apparent magnitudes these two stars’ distance from Earth?
of the two stars being compared (how bright
they appear in the sky) and b1 and b2 are their 14. Refer to questions 12 and 13. Which physical
brightness (how much light they actually emit). property of stars do you think astronomers
This relationship does not factor in how far would be more interested in, apparent magnitude
from Earth the stars are. or absolute magnitude, and why?
brightness is perceived by the human eye. following is the value of loga (b2)?
Conduct some research on this topic and 5 3 2 4 3
summarize some of the mathematics behind A _ B _ C 2_ D _ E _
3 4 3 3 2
it. Also discuss why this property may be
advantageous to human existence.
6.5 Making Connections: Logarithmic Scales in the Physical Sciences • MHR 355