Lesson 03

SONIC
BOOM

The Physics of Supersonic Travel

\[ M = \frac{v_s}{v} \]

At Mach 1, the source is moving at the same speed as its own wavefronts.

When \( v_s > v \), the circular wavefronts "pile up" along a conical edge.

Constructive Interference

This "pile up" creates a high-pressure region—the shock wave—that we hear as a boom.

\[ \sin \theta = \frac{v}{v_s} = \frac{1}{M} \]

The angle of the cone (\( \theta \)) gets smaller as the speed of the aircraft increases.

Higher Speed

Sharper Cone

Lower Speed

Blunter Cone

A sonic boom isn't a single pulse; it's a double-pressure spike called an N-Wave.