Which term describes the perceived loudness of sound as distance from the source increases?

The term that best describes the perceived loudness of sound as distance from the source increases is distance attenuation. This concept refers to the decrease in sound intensity as sound waves travel away from their source. As the distance from the sound source increases, the sound energy spreads over a larger area, causing the perceived loudness to diminish. This reduction in loudness is a fundamental principle in acoustics, illustrating how our ears perceive sound based on proximity to the source.

The other terms do not accurately represent this phenomenon. Distance compression, distance expansion, and distance modulation do not relate to the decrease in sound intensity with distance and instead may refer to other concepts in various fields, but they are not appropriate in the context of sound perception. Understanding distance attenuation is crucial for applications such as loudspeaker placement and sound reinforcement in venues, ensuring optimal audio experience based on the distance from sound sources.