How Attenuation Weakens Waves and Signals | Generated by AI
Attenuation means a gradual decrease in strength, intensity, or effect of something as it travels or passes through a medium.
Common examples include:
Sound attenuation — sound waves losing volume as they travel through air or other materials. Thicker walls attenuate sound more effectively.
Light attenuation — light becoming dimmer as it passes through water, fog, or other materials. This is why underwater visibility decreases with depth.
Signal attenuation — electrical or radio signals weakening as they travel along cables or through space. This is why WiFi signals get weaker the farther you are from the router.
Radiation attenuation — the reduction in radiation intensity as it passes through shielding materials.
The term comes from the Latin word attenuare, meaning “to make thin” or “to weaken.” In technical fields like physics, engineering, and telecommunications, attenuation is often measured in decibels (dB) to quantify how much the signal or wave has been reduced.