Associate Certified Electronic Technician Practice Exam - Prep, Questions & Study Guide

To determine the dB loss in this scenario, we can use the formula that relates power levels in decibels:

\[ \text{dB loss} = 10 \times \log_{10}\left(\frac{P_{\text{input}}}{P_{\text{output}}}\right) \]

In this case, the input power is 10 W, and the output power is 5 W. Plugging these values into the formula gives us:

\[ \text{dB loss} = 10 \times \log_{10}\left(\frac{10\text{ W}}{5\text{ W}}\right) \]

\[ = 10 \times \log_{10}(2) \]

The logarithm of 2 is approximately 0.301, so:

\[ \text{dB loss} \approx 10 \times 0.301 = 3.01 \text{ dB} \]

When rounding to the nearest whole number, this results in a loss of approximately 3 dB.

Understanding a 3 dB loss is crucial as it corresponds to halving the power. In this scenario, receiving a 5 W signal when the transmitted signal was