Sonic boom phenomenon occurs when an aircraft breaks the sound barrier and travels faster than the speed of sound. The sonic boom causes a large amount of sound energy and sounds like an explosion to the human ear. Bengaluru: On Wednesday afternoon, a loud ‘thundering sound’ rocked Bengaluru triggering panic among city residents.
Another popular query is “Why does a sonic boom happen?”.
The loud noise, which some described as sounding like an “explosion,” was heard just after 4am. A sonic boom is caused by the shock waves created when an object travels through the air faster than the speed of sound.
You should be thinking “What is a sonic boom and why does it occur?”
One article claimed that sonic boom is an impulsive noise similar to thunder. It is caused by an object moving faster than sound — about 750 miles per hour at sea level. An aircraft traveling through the atmosphere continuously produces air-pressure waves similar to the water waves caused by a ship’s bow.
Another frequent question is “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.
A sonic boom occurs when an object moves faster than the speed of sound. As it moves through the air, it creates shock waves that can cause a loud, booming sound. It is mostly emitted by aircraft that travel at supersonic speeds.
Since the source is moving faster than the sound waves it creates, it leads the advancing wavefront. A sonic boom produced by an aircraft moving at M=2.92, calculated from the cone angle of 20 degrees. Observers hear nothing until the shock wave, on the edges of the cone, crosses their location. NASA data showing N-wave signature.
The sonic boom causes a large amount of sound energy and sounds like an explosion to the human ear. Sometimes the sonic boom created by supersonic aircraft is so loud that it may cause damage to some structures.
What causes a sonic boom when an airplane crashes?
The sonic boom produces sound waves when an aircraft travels through the air. If the plane moves slower than the sound speed, then sound waves can propagate ahead of the plane. Whereas, if the plane is moving faster than the speed of sound, it makes pressure waves in front and behind, leading to a sonic boom.
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.
Why does the Space Shuttle return to Earth cause two sonic booms?
Learn more physics! Why does the space shuttle returning to Earth cause two separate sonic booms? Actually, most things that fly faster than the speed of sound create two sonic booms. It’s just that they’re usually so close together that they sound like just one.
How long does it take for a sonic boom to reach ground?
Depending on the aircraft’s altitude, sonic booms reach the ground two to 60 seconds after flyover. However, not all booms are heard at ground level. The speed of sound at any altitude is a function of air temperature. A decrease or increase in temperature results in a corresponding decrease or increase in sound speed.