Terskelbølger

Terskelbølger, also known as shock waves or Mach waves, are a type of wave that occurs when an object moves through a medium at a speed greater than the speed of sound in that medium. This phenomenon is named after Ernst Mach, an Austrian physicist who first described it. When an object, such as an aircraft or a bullet, exceeds the speed of sound, it creates a series of pressure waves that spread outward from the object. These waves intersect with each other, forming a cone-shaped wavefront that moves with the object. The point where the object is located is known as the Mach cone, and the angle of this cone is determined by the ratio of the object's speed to the speed of sound. Terskelbølger are responsible for the sonic boom heard when an object breaks the sound barrier. They can also cause other effects, such as the formation of a vapor cone around high-speed objects moving through water. Understanding terskelbølger is crucial in fields such as aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, and the design of high-speed vehicles.