Sonic boom- All you need to know

What is a sonic boom?

When an object travels at a speed greater than that of sound, shock waves are created due to compression in the atmosphere along with sound. The compression is usually associated with shock waves or the ‘sonic boom’.

From bullets to supersonic aircraft

The bullets traveling from a gun can be given as a miniature example of the sonic boom. While the sonic boom due to supersonic aircraft is loud like thunder. The fighter jets that hover around are common examples of supersonic aircraft. Sometimes they are also called fast jets(Read more about supersonic aircraft).    This sound is so high that it awakens people and creates minor damages to structures. Therefore, the flight of supersonic flights was prohibited. However, total prohibition is not possible and the alterations to improve the design are still in progress.

Sonic boom

The causes for the loud sound during a sonic boom

The sonic boom is by nature a continuous effect. The sound is not heard at one place but is found to be coming out in all directions of the object traveling at supersonic speeds. The sonic boom affects the observer in a cone-shaped geometric region that travels along with the supersonic object.  The shock waves are based on the amount of air accelerated. Also, check out the article on Supersonic planes.

The N- waves and U- waves

 The N- waves are generated due to steady flight conditions and are shaped like the letter N.  The pressure waves of the U- boom, is focussed and are shaped like the letter U.  It is also called Focussed boom. Additionally, read about What Is Hypersonic?

Sonic boom

What causes problems in a supersonic flight?

The biggest disadvantage that attacks supersonic flight is the effect of a sonic boom. The pressure waves are formed all around the plane. As you know pressure is always a problem! At supersonic speeds, the pressure waves keep piling up in front and behind the plane in motion. This results in the booming sound affecting everyone near the object and not the people inside the object flying. 

Wanna know more about the other phenomenon of flight? Dig in to find out about aerodynamics and its history, basic forces of aerodynamics, and much more. 

 Hope this article made you wear your thinking caps and reading glasses. The era of inventory of life in the air is still in progress. Hope you enjoyed this fun fact time about the sonic boom. It’s time for more research! For more information on aviation and related stuff do check out our blog page at Criss Cross Tamizh. Until then, bye reader! 

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