How to Reduce the Sonic Boom Produced by Aircraft
How can the sonic boom at ground level produced by an aircraft be reduced?
A) Fly higher
B) Fly at a higher altitude
C) Be more streamlined
D) Be smaller
E) None of the above choices are true
The sonic boom at ground level produced by an aircraft will be reduced if the aircraft flies higher
Explanation: The sonic boom produced by an aircraft at ground level is influenced by several factors relevant to the aircraft and its flight altitude. Sonic booms are created by the shock waves produced when the speed of an aircraft overtakes the speed of sound. This results in two distinct booms: one from the nose and one from the tail of the aircraft, which are heard on the ground after the plane has passed by.
When an aircraft flies at a higher altitude, the sonic boom at ground level is reduced. This is because the shock waves have more distance to travel and disperse over a wider area before reaching the ground, hence reducing the intensity of the sonic boom that reaches observers on the ground.
The size and streamlining of the aircraft primarily affect the efficiency and speed at which the aircraft can reach supersonic speeds, but they do not directly impact the intensity of the sonic boom experienced at ground level. The key factor in reducing the sonic boom is the altitude at which the aircraft is flying.
To minimize the impact of the sonic boom on the ground, aircraft designers and regulators consider factors such as flight altitude, aircraft size, and aerodynamic shaping to help mitigate the effects of the shock waves when an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound.