2007-01-03 02:05:12 · 23 answers · asked by Dirty Rob 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
From InfoPlease:
"The "crack" occurs when the wave of motion traveling down a whip surpasses the speed of sound. The wave can move so quickly because a whip tapers from the handle to the tip. When a whip is snapped, the momentum from the motion at the handle is conserved, and consequently the speed increases as the diameter of the whip decreases. Thus the wave gathers speed as it continues down the length of the whip, and when its velocity exceeds the speed of sound it produces a small sonic boom—the distinctive "crack"."
2007-01-03 02:07:17 · answer #1 · answered by Yahzmin ♥♥ 4ever 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The end of the whip breaks the sound barrier, thus a crack is heard. Speed of sound being 344 m/s (770mph or 1238 km/h) - depending on local temperature's and atmospheric conditions. It's just like an aircraft and it's associated sonic boom that can be heard but not quite as loud due to it's size.
2007-01-03 02:55:18 · answer #2 · answered by nthngosling 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The energy from swinging your arm is transmitted down the whip as a wave. When the wave reaches the end of the whip, a small part at the tip moves extremely quickly and breaks the sound barrier. What you hear is actually a sonic boom.
2007-01-03 02:08:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
A whip cracks because the whip's cracker moves faster than the speed of sound, resulting in small sonic boom. The speed of sound is approximately 1,230 feet per second (or approx 1,000 kilometres per hour) and the "crack" is the sound of air rushing back into the small vacuum created by the whip's cracker.
2007-01-03 02:09:11 · answer #4 · answered by DevilInBristol 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Actually it is NOT the "tip" of the whip that is moving faster than the speed of sound. It is the small "loop" (like a wave) traveling down the length of the whip that is breaking the sound barrier.
2007-01-03 06:56:05 · answer #5 · answered by Larry H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The tip of the whip breaks the sound barrier. The crack you hear is a sonic wave.
2007-01-03 02:07:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Because the tip of the whip is actually travelling faster than the speed of sound, what you hear is a mini sonic boom.
2007-01-03 02:07:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
the noise you hear is a sonic boom, like form a fighter jet. Because the whip is tapered the noise is amplified up the whip its self,
2007-01-03 08:47:37 · answer #8 · answered by PetSet 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
believe it or not that noise is a sonic boom as the end of the whip breaks the sound barrier
2007-01-03 02:07:57 · answer #9 · answered by grum 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because the tip reaches the speed of sound. That crack is a (small) sonic boom.
(And I am not kidding)
2007-01-03 02:07:37 · answer #10 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋