Supersonic
The termsupersonicis used to describe a speed that is over thespeed of sound(Mach1). At a normal temperature like 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21.1°C), the speed needed for something to be traveling at a faster than sound speed is about 344m/s,1,129 ft/s, 770mphor 1,238km/h.Speeds faster than 5 times the speed of sound are sometimes calledhypersonic.Speeds where only some parts of the air around an object (like the propeller) reach supersonic speeds are calledtransonic(normally somewhere between Mach 0.8 and Mach 1.2).[1]
Whipshave operated supersonically for many centuries.Artillerybecame supersonic in the 19th century.
It can be very hard to reach supersonic speeds, becausedragincreases a lot near these speeds. This slows a plane, and for years made control difficult. These problems were called the "sound barrier".Jet enginesand other developments solved the problems in the middle 20th century.
References
[change|change source]- ↑A Dictionary of Aviation, David W. Wragg.ISBN9780850451634,1st Edition Published by Osprey, 1973 / Published by Frederick Fell, Inc., NY, 1974 (1st American Edition.)
