2006-08-30 14:33:37 · 25 answers · asked by PMedicRich 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
MrG is correct, however, the speed of sound through air also varies with temperature (not pressure), the standard atmosphere is 15 degrees C at sea level and temperatures decreeses around 2 degrees for every 1000 feet of altitue (higher).
Mach 5 or higher is called Hypersonic speed.
2006-08-30 14:52:11 · answer #1 · answered by frankclau 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any speed over the speed of sound, which is approximately 343 m/s, 1,087 ft/s, 761 mph or 1,235 km/h in air at sea level, is said to be supersonic.
Speeds greater than 5 times the speed of sound are sometimes referred to as hypersonic.
Sounds are vibrations in an elastic medium.
In gases sound travels longitudinally at different speeds, mostly depending on the molecular mass and temperature of the gas; whilst pressure has a much smaller effect. Since air temperature and composition varies significantly with altitude, mach numbers for aircraft are related to the speed of sound at sea level.
In water at room temperature supersonic can be considered as any speed greater than 1,440 m/s or 4,724 ft/s.
In solids, sound waves can be longitudinal or transverse and have even higher velocities.
For more information you can go to the link below....................
2006-08-31 03:49:12 · answer #2 · answered by Ask Dr. Dingo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
frankclau got it right, with the caveat that the speed will vary depending on the local speed of sound, which varies with the absolute temperature of the air. The tabulated value of c (speed of sound) varies from 1116 ft/sec at sea level to 967.6 ft/sec at just over 36,000 ft altitude. Then it holds steady up to 66,000 ft and starts climbing again. My table ends at 200,000 ft where c = 1047 ft/sec, nearly the same as sea level.
Mach 5 is an arbitrary speed used by some, but certainly not all, aerodynamicists to separate supersonic from hypersonic speeds.
2006-08-31 00:22:03 · answer #3 · answered by Steve 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Supersonic is faster than the speed of sound. Unlike light, the speed of sound depends on the medium which it is passing through.
In "normal air", the speed of sound is approximately 340 meters per second, so supersonic would be faster than that.
2006-08-30 21:38:22 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, first get out your 2 buck calculator and turn it on. Mach 1 is 700 mph, and supersonic is 700x5.
2006-08-30 21:42:33 · answer #5 · answered by Dylan J 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Supersonic speed is dependent on altitude. At sea level the speed of sound is about 750 mph but as you gain altitude the is less air and so the speed of sound is less.
so, these aircraft that travel at 3,4,5, times the speed of sound are only able to do so at altitude.
In other words, the speed of sound varies depending on your height.
2006-08-31 04:07:41 · answer #6 · answered by leckie1UK 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm amazed. Nothing but "Air-Geeks" here and not two agree on the defination of "Supersonic".
To see how complicated this question really is, go to the NASA site I listed.
2006-08-31 00:58:50 · answer #7 · answered by Rusty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anything faster than 750 mph which would be Mach 1
2006-08-31 05:21:17 · answer #8 · answered by Ironball 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1225 kilometers/hour is MACH 1. Mach 1 is just supersonic.
2006-08-31 06:37:32 · answer #9 · answered by Fadhl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
faster than the speed of sound, or about 700 feet per second, or 600 miles an hour.
2006-08-30 21:38:28 · answer #10 · answered by cbmaclean 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋