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Attenuation
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Physics/a7aH2y08">physics</a>, attenuation (in some contexts, extinction) is the gradual loss of <a href="/facts/Flux/Aw3P5Bvb">flux</a> intensity through a <a href="/facts/Transmission_medium/yT1uXLmq">medium</a>. For instance, dark <a href="/facts/Glasses/ER3sFKmJ">glasses</a> attenuate <a href="/facts/Sunlight/WPkJRC7s">sunlight</a>, <a href="/facts/Lead/EYljasJN">lead</a> attenuates <a href="/facts/X-ray/wseP79cN">X-rays</a>, and <a href="/facts/Water/0lkXnJPK">water</a> and <a href="/facts/Air/hQ95Jznz">air</a> attenuate both <a href="/facts/Light/jeofpMn4">light</a> and <a href="/facts/Sound/DlKXlPuF">sound</a> at variable attenuation rates. </p><p><a href="/facts/Hearing_protection_device/otnkDUhz">Hearing protectors</a> help reduce <a href="/facts/Sound_power/CDs5e3ta">acoustic flux</a> from flowing into the ears. This phenomenon is called <a href="/facts/Acoustic_attenuation/FYX8rfsT">acoustic attenuation</a> and is measured in <a href="/facts/Decibel/0LyxAPXh">decibels</a> (dBs). </p><p>In <a href="/facts/Electrical_engineering/YYXW1KLW">electrical engineering</a> and <a href="/facts/Telecommunications/vxoj1cxR">telecommunications</a>, attenuation affects the <a href="/facts/Wave_propagation/PXhWIt7k">propagation of waves</a> and <a href="/facts/Signal/41YqUJ8c">signals</a> in <a href="/facts/Electrical_circuit/zt94kTW0">electrical circuits</a>, in <a href="/facts/Optical_fiber/5ruuIFbj">optical fibers</a>, and in air. <a href="/facts/Attenuator_(electronics)/IN6mISdl">Electrical attenuators</a> and <a href="/facts/Optical_attenuator/jJrznX7G">optical attenuators</a> are commonly manufactured components in this field. </p>