3 ms·
You can think of it this way: at subsonic speeds, air ahead of the aircraft "knows" that the plane is coming, and can flow around it. At supersonic speeds, thi
by idlewords 9y ago
You can think of it this way: at subsonic speeds, air ahead of the aircraft "knows" that the plane is coming, and can flow around it. At supersonic speeds, this information doesn't propagate forwards, and the plane smashes into the air ahead of it, creating a shock wave.
I'm anthropomorphizing and oversimplifying (airflow over a wing can be locally supersonic even in subsonic flight) but I don't care because I enjoy thinking of this in terms of information flow.
- Avshalom 9y agoI am delighted by the idea of a little anthropomorphic chunk of air shouting "Move, there's a plane coming!" and then face palming upon realizing too late that it is using sound to warn other bits of air about something moving at supersonic speeds.