Thank you!Filip Larsen said:Mach speed do indeed vary with altitude. In the standard atmosphere [1], mach speed at 50k feet altitude is around 87% of the sea level value, i.e. the speed of sound is slower and not faster at 50k.
For further information I recommend you search for "mach speed at altitude" which should give you references like speed of sound at wikipedia [2] and tables of mach speed [3].
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Atmosphere
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound
[3] http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/atmosphere/q0112.shtml
Filip Larsen said:Mach speed do indeed vary with altitude. In the standard atmosphere [1], mach speed at 50k feet altitude is around 87% of the sea level value, i.e. the speed of sound is slower and not faster at 50k.
For further information I recommend you search for "mach speed at altitude" which should give you references like speed of sound at wikipedia [2] and tables of mach speed [3].
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Atmosphere
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound
[3] http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/atmosphere/q0112.shtml
A sonic boom is caused by an object, such as an airplane or a bullet, traveling faster than the speed of sound. As the object moves through the air, it creates a pressure wave that spreads out in all directions. When this pressure wave reaches the ground, it can be heard as a loud noise, known as a sonic boom.
The loudness of a sonic boom can vary depending on the size and speed of the object creating it. Generally, a sonic boom can reach up to 200 decibels, which is much louder than a typical conversation or a rock concert. However, the sound is usually short-lived and does not cause any lasting damage to hearing.
Sonic booms are not known to cause any physical damage. However, they can be startling and may cause disruptions to people and animals nearby. In rare cases, sonic booms can cause minor damage to buildings or windows, but this is not common.
Sonic booms occur more frequently over large bodies of water because the sound waves can travel much farther without being disrupted. Over land, the sound waves can hit obstacles such as buildings or mountains, which can reduce the intensity of the boom. Additionally, there are fewer people living over water, so there are fewer potential disruptions to nearby communities.
Yes, there are laws and regulations in place to control and limit the occurrence of sonic booms. For example, in the United States, supersonic flight over land is prohibited, except in designated areas. Additionally, many countries have noise regulations in place to limit the disruption caused by sonic booms.