yliäänipamausena

Yliäänipamausena, known in English as a sonic boom, is the sound associated with shock waves created when an object travels through the air faster than the speed of sound. The speed of sound varies depending on factors like temperature and altitude, but is approximately 343 meters per second (767 miles per hour) at sea level under standard conditions.

When an object, such as an aircraft, exceeds this speed, it continuously generates pressure waves. These waves cannot propagate away from the object faster than the object is moving, so they build up and merge to form a shock wave. This shock wave is a region of very rapid change in pressure, temperature, and density of the air.

As the object moves, these shock waves propagate outwards. The characteristic "boom" sound is produced when these shock waves reach an observer. It is not a single event but rather a continuous phenomenon as long as the object is supersonic. The sound is often perceived as two distinct booms, one from the nose of the aircraft and another from the tail, corresponding to the expansion and compression waves.

The intensity of a sonic boom depends on factors such as the size and shape of the object, its altitude, and the atmospheric conditions. While sonic booms are a natural consequence of supersonic flight, they can cause disturbances and have been a subject of concern regarding noise pollution, especially for aircraft flying at lower altitudes over populated areas.