Sound intensity (energy) falls inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the sound:
[tex]I \propto \frac{1}{r^2}[/tex]
Therefore if we have two values of intensities we have
[tex]\frac{I_1}{I_2} = \frac{r_2^2}{r_1^2}[/tex]
As we have that
[tex]r_1 = 3 r_2[/tex]
Then we have that
[tex]\frac{I_1}{I_2} = \frac{r_2^2}{(3r_2)^2}[/tex]
[tex]\frac{I_1}{I_2} = \frac{1}{9}[/tex]
Therefore the correct answer is D. The sound intensity drops to 1 / 9 of its original value.