After supernova explosion sound is created....

In summary, after a supernova explosion, sound is created in the form of shock waves in the interstellar medium. However, due to the lack of a medium for sound to travel through in space, the sound eventually fades into background noise. This phenomenon is important in cosmology as it helps determine the size of acoustic waves seen in the Cosmic Microwave Background, and can trigger more star formation. Additionally, in a supernova, there is a pressure wave carried by matter expelled during the explosion, known as bow shock, which can be compared to the sound of a supernova. However, the ejecta from a supernova move faster than the speed of sound, making it more like a sonic boom.
  • #1
Subrata Paul
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After supernova explosion sound is created... so what happens to that sound??
 
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  • #2
Subrata Paul said:
After supernova explosion sound is created... so what happens to that sound??
Sound has to have a medium to travel through like air or water. There is no medium in space for sound to travel through so there is no sound. I.E. in space, no one can hear you scream.
 
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  • #3
Subrata Paul said:
After supernova explosion sound is created... so what happens to that sound??
You and I owe our existence in part to the shock-waves in the interstellar medium created by supernova explosions.

They temporarily compress clouds of gas which can trigger star formation.

In a large star-forming region the explosion of one supernova can start a chain reaction of supernovas. the shock waves compress, several other stars form, some of which are massive enough to eventually go supernova themselves, they in turn make waves in the interstellar gas and plasma...
 
  • #4
Subrata Paul you ask a very good question, what happens to the sound?
I think the answer is: what usually happens to sound. It travels. And its energy spreads out until it fades into background noise and becomes undetectable.

An important part of cosmology is calculating the SPEED OF SOUND in space at various times like around year 370,000
when the CMB originated because the speed of sound helps to determine the size of the acoustic waves that we see frozen in the CMB. the sound waves, called acoustic waves, are shown in density fluctuations which we detect as temperature fluctuations in the CMB.

How big the frozen sound waves look in the sky (their angular size) helps us know how far away the "surface of last scattering" was at that time in the past, and to deduce how far away it is now.

The speed of sound can be calculated if one knows the temperature of the medium. I'm not sure but I think dark matter is involved so the dark matter density may enter in. For a cloud of ordinary matter it would depend mostly on the temperature---maybe the mean free path too. Have to look this up.

Anyway it is an important thing in cosmology, and there are ways cosmologists use to calculate the speed of sound based on known conditions at various times in the past. But basically the answer to your question is "the sound travels and spreads out, and in some conditions it can trigger more star-formation"
 
  • #5
In a supernova, there is a phenomenon called bow shock, which is a pressure wave carried by matter expelled during the detonation. In that sense it is the 'sound of a supernova in the same way baryonic acoustical oscillations are the sound of the big bang.
 
  • #6
One key difference is that the supernova ejecta are moving faster than the speed of sound in the interstellar medium for quite a long time after the supernova, so "hearing" a supernova would be a bit like hearing a sonic boom-- you don't hear anything until the shock hits you and rattles you.
 

FAQ: After supernova explosion sound is created....

1. How is sound created after a supernova explosion?

Sound is created after a supernova explosion due to the rapid expansion of the star's outer layers. This expansion causes a shockwave to travel through the surrounding gas and dust, which produces vibrations that can be detected as sound waves.

2. What does a supernova explosion sound like?

Unfortunately, the sound produced by a supernova explosion cannot be heard by human ears as it is too low in frequency. However, if we could hear it, it would likely sound like a low rumble or a deep bass note.

3. How far can the sound of a supernova explosion travel?

The sound of a supernova explosion can travel through outer space, but it eventually dissipates due to the lack of particles to vibrate and carry the sound. It is estimated that the sound from a supernova explosion could travel for thousands of light years.

4. Can we detect the sound of a supernova explosion on Earth?

No, we cannot detect the sound of a supernova explosion on Earth. The sound waves would become too faint by the time they reached our planet and would be drowned out by other background noise. However, we can detect the light and other forms of radiation produced by a supernova explosion.

5. How does the sound of a supernova explosion help scientists study the event?

The sound of a supernova explosion can provide valuable information about the event, such as its strength and duration. By studying the sound waves, scientists can also learn more about the structure and composition of the star that exploded, as well as the surrounding environment.

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