2007-01-07 14:03:01 · 5 answers · asked by comsublant5 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
No, the sonic boom is not a one-time event caused when the plane passes through the sound barrier but a shock wave that travels with a plane flying faster than sound. You hear a single boom as the shock wave passes you, but it continues moving.
2007-01-07 14:24:29 · answer #1 · answered by injanier 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow, everyone is wrong. If you're on an airplane, can you hear the airplane's own sonic boom? No, because the airplane is traveling faster than the speed of sound - the sonic boom, a sound, cannot travel faster than the speed of sound, if it could, then the sonic boom would never happen. This is why a sonic boom happens. And it is a one time thing spread out over time, just as any other event.
2007-01-07 16:35:19 · answer #2 · answered by John R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a 100% sure on this... But if I were to guess I would say the answer is no. Regardless of the approach to breaking the sonic barrier. The boom is a function of air being compressed by the object / airplane travelling faster than the energy wave (sound) conducting away the energy (sound).
2007-01-07 14:09:14 · answer #3 · answered by lostlatinlover 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. Your approach to the speed of sound is irrelevant. The "boom" happens because the sound can't escape the source and is cumulative.
2007-01-07 14:20:18 · answer #4 · answered by emkay4597 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have ABSOLUTELY no clue, but the Wikipedia article was very interesting.
2007-01-07 14:06:55 · answer #5 · answered by Steven X 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋