What is the so called ‘sound barrier’? And why is there something visible when an Aircraft ‘breaks through’ it? What is it we see? I dont get it at all
In: Physics
“Sound barrier” is the speed of sound (in this case in air). Sound can only travel as fast as a longitudinal wave can vibrate the material it is teavelling in. This corresponds to 761mph or 1100 ft/s (1225 kph or 335 m/s) in stp air (sea level, dry air, at ~75 F or 25C). The reason you see something is there is no more room to compress the air in front of the vehicle, so a sudden ring of steam (or condensed water really, like a cloud) is formed from the pressure change when the object “breaks” the sound barrier.
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