(meteorobs) Multiple sonic booms

[Ed Majden]

on 3/19/05 14:43, GeoZay at aol.com at GeoZay at aol.com wrote:

> 
> Ed>>A sonic
> boom is created by the leading edge and the trailing  edge of a single
> object.<<
> 
> 
> I wonder how the sonics would sound like, if the object was smaller than  a
> plane or space shuttle...such as something the size of a basketball? Would the
> leading edge and trailing edge be too close to be able to distinguish
> separate  booming? I think of a high power rifle bullet heard off in a
> distance, 
> outside  of the echos, it seems I only hear one boom (or pow in this case. :O)
> Or 
> the  cracking of a whip...also a mini-boom to breaking the sound barrier.
> GeoZay
> 

George:
    The object would have to be large enough so there is a measurable time
delay between the leading edge and trailing edge boom, otherwise you would
hear the two blended together and thus a single boom.  That's my guess
anyway!  
Ed