If the plane is traveling slower than the speed of sound (the speed of sound varies, but 700 mph is typical through air), then sound waves can propagate ahead of the plane. If the plane breaks the sound barrier and flies faster than the speed of sound, it produces a sonic boom when it flies past .
One idea is that if the plane breaks the sound barrier and flies faster than the speed of sound, it produces a sonic boom when it flies past. The boom is the ” wake” of the plane’s sound waves.
What is a sonic boom and how is it created?
We come from the future. Find out what a sonic boom is, and how you can create it in the privacy of your own household. The one-line explanation for a sonic boom is this: A sonic boom is the shock wave that is produced when an object breaks the sound barrier.
Why does a sonic boom sound like a clap?
The constant expansion and contraction of air can cause a shock wave that sounds like a loud clap to human ears. This is why a sonic boom can be so loud . Can a sonic boom hurt you? A sonic boom can severely damage your hearing if you are close enough to the source.
Why is the wavefront of a sonic boom visible?
The wavefront of the sonic boom is visible because the extreme compression changes the refractive index of the air . It’s similar to the way that hot air from a flame causes the view through it to shimmer. Here’s a photo of the Thrust SSC land speed record car at or near Mach 1 in 1997. The shockwave distortions in the air are clearly visible.
Can a sonic boom be created at Mach 3?
The sonic boom is created when the apeed exceeds Mach 1. As the speed increases further, the showckwave creates a cone that becomes pointier. One more at Mach 2. And one more at Mach 3.
Another popular question is “Can a sonic boom be used as a weapon?”.
By the time the sound reaches the ground [4], the N-wave has diffused into a barely audible poof. Thoughts of using the sonic boom as a weapon seem to have been given up ; considerable civilian research is being done now on “Low Boom” supersonic flight.
A sonic boom can severely damage your hearing if you are close enough to the source. Is making a sonic boom illegal? Making sonic booms was banned in 1973. It is prohibited for anyone to operate an aircraft that is capable of producing sonic booms over densely populated areas.