GATE Air and Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution – Previous Year Questions

5 GATE previous year questions on Noise Pollution (Air and Noise Pollution, Environmental Science and Engineering) with answers and explanations, from every paper.

1. GATE 2021 ES Q20 (1 mark, Multiple choice) – For RMS sound pressure p and reference hearing-threshold pressure p₀,which formula gives sound pressure level in dB?
2. GATE 2022 ES Q42 (2 marks, Multiple choice) – Independent sources have sound-power levels30 dB background,80 dB television and 70 dB radio. Reference sound power10⁻¹² W. Find combined level.
3. GATE 2024 ES Q58 (2 marks, Numerical answer) – Adjacent noise sources have levels30 and 40 dB. Find combined level in dB, to two decimals. Reference pressure is 20 µPa.
4. GATE 2025 ES Q40 (2 marks, Multiple choice) – Consider:(i) sound pressure changes with distance from the source;(ii) sound power is a source property;(iii) sound intensity is sound power per unit…
5. GATE 2026 ES Q47 (2 marks, Numerical answer) – Sound levels at urban locations A, B, C, D are 40,55,65,75 dBA. Find the average sound level in dBA, to two decimal places.