What happens when a jet plane like concorde flies faster than the speed of sound?
2007-01-09 12:38:54 · 8 answers · asked by Muhammad A 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The sound that it makes will immediately fall behind it, leaving a wake of what can best be described as dense sound, it is much louder than normal sound and is called a sonic boom.
2007-01-09 12:42:59 · answer #1 · answered by OobyDooby 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sound is a compression wave. Sound wavefronts travel through air at a speed determined by the distance air molecules need to travel before "bumping into" adjacent air molecules. When the concord or such travels at the speed of sound, it is as if the aircraft is a giant air molecule, sending an enormous wavefront out as it "bumps into" the air molecules...resulting in a "sonic boom".
The aerodynamics also changes at speeds greater than sound, since the compression wave is more dense than "normal" air.
Hope this helps.
2007-01-09 21:06:34 · answer #2 · answered by Mez 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You get what is called a Mach cone in the form of an "oblique shockwave". The speed of sound depends on the temperature of the air. So it changes from one location to another.
2007-01-09 21:05:57 · answer #3 · answered by The Answerer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a compression wave forms in front of the plane, reacing what is commonly called a sonic boom.
2007-01-09 20:42:17 · answer #4 · answered by Dashes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the sound barrier is broken at 1,019 mph and sound trails behind
2007-01-09 20:43:25 · answer #5 · answered by darktrooper117 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It gets to its destination sooner.
2007-01-09 20:43:52 · answer #6 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound
The actual speed of sound.
2007-01-09 20:48:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sonic boom.
2007-01-09 20:42:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋