Seeing a Sonic Boom - How often?

Seeing a Sonic Boom - How often?, originally uploaded by edhiker.

Hearing a sonic boom is common, but what about seeing one?

When an object travels faster than the speed of sound, the density waves that we hear as sound cannot outrun the object itself and so accumulate as a cone behind it. When this cone of density waves passes, a listener hears all the sound at once as a sonic boom.

What happens visually though is still debated. It seems from the picture above that an unusual cloud forms. One theory is that a drop in air pressure at the plane causes water vapor to condense and form the cloud.

---------- Credit --------
Ensign John Gay, USS Constellation, US Navy

This image is a work of a sailor or employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made during the course of the person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.


ABOARD USS CONSTELLATION (July 7, 1999)-- Lieutenant Ron Candiloro, assigned to Fighter Squadron One Five One (VF-151), breaks the sound barrier in an F/A-18 "Hornet".

Uploaded by edhiker on 14 Sep 05, 5.17AM ICT.
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