G5B10 - What percentage of power loss is equivalent to a loss of 1 dB?

Question

What percentage of power loss is equivalent to a loss of 1 dB?

Answer Options

  • A) 10.9 percent
  • B) 12.2 percent
  • C) 20.6 percent
  • D) 25.9 percent

Correct Answer: C


Explanation

To convert a power loss expressed in decibels (\text{dB}) to a percentage loss, we use the inverse of the \text{dB} power ratio formula, P_2/P_1 = 10^{(\Delta \text{dB}/10)}. A loss of 1 \text{ dB} means \Delta \text{dB} = -1. The ratio of the output power (P_2) to the input power (P_1) is P_2/P_1 = 10^{(-1/10)} = 10^{-0.1} \approx 0.794.

This means the output power is 79.4\% of the input power. Therefore, the percentage of power lost is 100\% - 79.4\% = 20.6\%. A loss of 1 \text{ dB} is equivalent to a power loss of 20.6 \text{ percent}.


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