yliääninopeutta

Yliääninopeus, or supersonic speed, refers to speeds greater than the speed of sound. The speed of sound is not constant; it varies with the medium through which the sound is traveling and its temperature. In dry air at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) at sea level, the speed of sound is approximately 343.2 meters per second or 1,236 kilometers per hour. When an object travels at or above this speed, it generates a shock wave.

The phenomenon of exceeding the speed of sound was first practically achieved by Chuck Yeager in 1947. Objects traveling at supersonic speeds include many military aircraft, some passenger jets like the Concorde (though now retired), and rockets. The characteristic "sonic boom" heard when an aircraft breaks the sound barrier is a direct result of these shock waves. As an object moves faster than the sound waves it produces, these waves accumulate and coalesce into a conical wave front. When this wave front reaches an observer, it is perceived as a sudden, loud noise.

The study of supersonic flight is crucial in aerospace engineering, influencing aircraft design to minimize drag and overcome the significant increase in air resistance and heat generated at these speeds. Mach number is used to express speed relative to the speed of sound; Mach 1 represents the speed of sound, Mach 2 is twice the speed of sound, and so on.

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