Just curious 🙂
In: Physics
Sounds travels as a vibration through the air. It is basically each molecules bumping into the next molecule, which then bumps the next one, etc etc. Because molecules are a certain distance apart from each other, this takes time to move along. The speed of sound is the speed at which this wave moves.
Going faster than this speed (e.g. in a fighter jet) is commonly known as breaking the sound barrier. It’s kind of known as a barrier because as you approach that speed, the air bunches up and causes more drag so the plane needs a lot of thrust to get through that (this is often what afterburners do – they provide that extra push to ‘get through’ the barrier). Think like pushing your finger against some saran wrap – while it’s slack you get no resistance but as it pulls taut you get some resistance until you push hard enough to break through. (this is a gross simplification but enough for ELI5)
You may notice that the speed of sound changes at different temperatures or altitudes. That is because under different conditions, molecules are closer or further apart, meaning the wave moves faster or slower.
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