Listening from the ground in a wide open space. Scientific answers appreciated :-)
2006-07-27 06:34:17 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
If they were going over the speed of sound I would hear a sonic boom, so that's not the answer. They hardly ever do that these days, over populated areas anyway.
2006-07-27 06:41:50 · update #1
This phenomena is based on doppler's effect according to which the frequency of a wave decreases as it's generation point goes away from the observer. Thus the generating point of the sound waves is airplane which goes away from us as it flies on and on. Thus, we are unable to hear a constant tone. We hear a rumbling thunder rather because the freq. of sound is highest at the point which is nearest to us with respect to the airplane and that is the only point of such characterstic. All other points have different freq. as they have different distance from the observer.
I hope that it'll help you.
2006-07-27 06:57:19 · answer #1 · answered by Gogs 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi. The jet traveling at high altitude generates a relativly constant roar. If the air between you and the jet was perfectly calm and at a non-changing temperature (temperature changes the density) then the jet would have a much more uniform sound to a listener on the ground. This sometimes happens but not very often. The thunder rumbles for a completely different reason. The lightening bolt which heated the air curves all around the place and sometimes you hear a curved sound front where sound arrives at your position at the same time (boom) or from a straighter front (rumble).
2006-07-27 13:47:07 · answer #2 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are going over the speed of sound i guess
2006-07-27 13:37:30 · answer #3 · answered by Rajan 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋