(meteorobs) Multiple sonic booms

Terry Richardson richardsont at cofc.edu
Sat Mar 19 19:18:35 EST 2005


Actually the multiple booms from a single object are dependent on shape 
and in particular on having another part of the object projecting into 
the air stream. A round object or nearly round object would have a 
single sonic boom from the shock wave forming in front as it moves 
through the atmosphere. There is no trailing "edge" of any sort to 
produce a second boom..

On Mar 19, 2005, at 5:43 PM, 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
>
>
> ---
> Mailing list meteorobs
> meteorobs at meteorobs.org
> http://lists.meteorobs.org/mailman/listinfo/meteorobs



More information about the Meteorobs mailing list