Sonic boom

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Sonic boom

Mach cone

N-wave

File:Sonicbm2.ogg

sonicbm2

Large-Scale Low-Boom Supersonic Inlet Model

Sonic boom is a phenomenon that occurs when an object travels through the air at a speed faster than the speed of sound. This results in a shock wave that produces a loud explosive noise. Sonic booms are commonly associated with supersonic aircraft, but they can also be produced by other objects moving at high speeds, such as bullets or meteorites.

Mechanism

A sonic boom is created when an object moves through the air faster than the speed of sound, which is approximately 343 meters per second (1,235 kilometers per hour or 767 miles per hour) at sea level. As the object travels, it compresses the air in front of it, creating a series of pressure waves. When these pressure waves merge, they form a single shock wave that travels outward in a cone shape. The shock wave is heard as a sonic boom when it reaches the ground.

Characteristics

The intensity of a sonic boom depends on several factors, including the size, shape, and speed of the object, as well as the altitude at which it is traveling. Sonic booms are typically heard as a double boom, caused by the shock waves created at the front and rear of the object. The duration of a sonic boom is usually less than a second, but it can be heard over a large area.

Effects

Sonic booms can cause a range of effects, from minor disturbances to significant damage. The loud noise can startle people and animals, and in some cases, it can cause physical damage to structures, such as broken windows. The impact of a sonic boom is generally greater at lower altitudes, where the shock wave is more concentrated.

Applications

Sonic booms are most commonly associated with supersonic aircraft, such as military jets and the now-retired Concorde. These aircraft are designed to travel at speeds greater than the speed of sound, allowing them to reach their destinations more quickly. However, the noise and potential damage caused by sonic booms have led to restrictions on supersonic flight over populated areas.

Mitigation

Efforts to mitigate the effects of sonic booms include designing aircraft with shapes that reduce the intensity of the shock wave and developing flight paths that minimize the impact on populated areas. Research is also being conducted into low-boom supersonic aircraft, which aim to reduce the noise associated with sonic booms.

Related Pages

• Supersonic speed
• Shock wave
• Supersonic aircraft
• Concorde
• Speed of sound

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