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Do launching rockets produce a sonic boom?

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Do launching rockets produce a sonic boom?

When does an aerobraking space craft create a sonic boom?What should I consider in choosing what launch to see live?Do payloads with living creatures get launched slower to minimize G forces?Why does the New Shepard vehicle not have an exhaust trench?Modelling for the LDSD parachute - what are the issues with scale models and software simulations?How long does Max-Q last?Has Max-Q historically been a common failure point in rocket launches?What is the source of the 'whoop' sound made before the liftoff (T-3s) of Atlas-V rocket?How far does the sound of a rocket launch carry?What benefits can be gained from launching below ground?Which has been the most gregarious rocket, launched from the most sites?

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I've been watching rocket launches, and the commentator often remarks when the vehicle has gone supersonic. There is presumably a sonic boom at this point, right? Is it just that we don't hear it on the ground because the engines are louder, and overpower the sound?

launch supersonic

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asked 9 hours ago

foobarbecuefoobarbecue

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• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Related non-dupe When does an aerobraking space craft create a sonic boom?
  $endgroup$
  – James Jenkins
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

5

$begingroup$

I've been watching rocket launches, and the commentator often remarks when the vehicle has gone supersonic. There is presumably a sonic boom at this point, right? Is it just that we don't hear it on the ground because the engines are louder, and overpower the sound?

launch supersonic

share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

foobarbecuefoobarbecue

45322 silver badges1010 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Related non-dupe When does an aerobraking space craft create a sonic boom?
  $endgroup$
  – James Jenkins
  9 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

I've been watching rocket launches, and the commentator often remarks when the vehicle has gone supersonic. There is presumably a sonic boom at this point, right? Is it just that we don't hear it on the ground because the engines are louder, and overpower the sound?

launch supersonic

share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

foobarbecuefoobarbecue

45322 silver badges1010 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

foobarbecuefoobarbecue

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share|improve this question

asked 9 hours ago

foobarbecuefoobarbecue

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asked 9 hours ago

foobarbecuefoobarbecue

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asked 9 hours ago

foobarbecuefoobarbecue

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3 Answers
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6

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Definition of terms: A shock wave by itself is not a "sonic boom". A sonic boom is an event, produced by the shock(s) passing over something - an observer, a building, the ground. The "boom" is characterized by a rising/falling/rising pressure disturbance called an "N-wave" because the disturbance has the shape of an N when plotted. A model in a supersonic wind tunnel produces a shock wave but not a boom. Shock waves in rocket engine exhaust would not be called "sonic booms" either.

A sonic boom is heard by observers when the shock wave(s) produced by an object moving at supersonic speed passes by them. This is unlikely to happen with a rocket launch since the vehicle is at high altitude and moving away. The rocket produces a shock wave once it goes supersonic, but it probably won't pass by any observers.

(figure source)

Shuttle produced sonic booms on landing which could be heard by ground observers.

share|improve this answer

edited 5 hours ago

answered 9 hours ago

Organic MarbleOrganic Marble

66.8k44 gold badges188188 silver badges286286 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  "The shock wave must interact with something - an observer, a building, the ground - to produce the "boom". " That's not true. The pressure gradient (i.e. boom) is there, whether there's something to interact with or not. I'm reminded of philosophical statements like 'if a tree falls in the forest and there's nobody there to hear it, does it still make a sound?'.
  $endgroup$
  – Hobbes
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Thanks, edited to clarify.
  $endgroup$
  – Organic Marble
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Re, "...the vehicle is at high altitude and moving away." Might be worth mentioning that rockets (not counting weapons fired in conflict) are virtually never launched over any populated area.
  $endgroup$
  – Solomon Slow
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  As the old proverb goes, "If a rocket produces a shock wave in the air, and nobody is around to hear, does it produce a sonic boom?" Or something like that.
  $endgroup$
  – Greg
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

4

$begingroup$

Yes, it produces a sonic boom. But the shockwave travels in the same direction as the rocket (i.e. up) and doesn't reach the ground.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

HobbesHobbes

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add a comment | 

1

$begingroup$

Think about what a sonic boom is. It's the shock wave caused by 'bunching up' of the compression waves of the body, moving through the air.

To see this, consider:

• For a stationary body emitting pressure waves, at any one point in time you only hear the sound emitted at another (slightly older) point in time.




• However if the body is moving faster than the speed of sound, you can be hearing the sound form the body at multiple points in time. An observer see these waves getting bunched up and interfering as the waves from the body go back and meet older waves travelling forward. This 'bunching up' is what causes the boom.

However, if you start behind the body, before it starts moving, all the sound waves hit you strictly in order so you never experience the bunching up.

Hence no boom. You still hear the sound waves that make up the boom, you just don't hear them all at once as a sonic boom.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

ANoneANone

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add a comment | 

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6

$begingroup$

Definition of terms: A shock wave by itself is not a "sonic boom". A sonic boom is an event, produced by the shock(s) passing over something - an observer, a building, the ground. The "boom" is characterized by a rising/falling/rising pressure disturbance called an "N-wave" because the disturbance has the shape of an N when plotted. A model in a supersonic wind tunnel produces a shock wave but not a boom. Shock waves in rocket engine exhaust would not be called "sonic booms" either.

A sonic boom is heard by observers when the shock wave(s) produced by an object moving at supersonic speed passes by them. This is unlikely to happen with a rocket launch since the vehicle is at high altitude and moving away. The rocket produces a shock wave once it goes supersonic, but it probably won't pass by any observers.

(figure source)

Shuttle produced sonic booms on landing which could be heard by ground observers.

share|improve this answer

edited 5 hours ago

answered 9 hours ago

Organic MarbleOrganic Marble

66.8k44 gold badges188188 silver badges286286 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  "The shock wave must interact with something - an observer, a building, the ground - to produce the "boom". " That's not true. The pressure gradient (i.e. boom) is there, whether there's something to interact with or not. I'm reminded of philosophical statements like 'if a tree falls in the forest and there's nobody there to hear it, does it still make a sound?'.
  $endgroup$
  – Hobbes
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Thanks, edited to clarify.
  $endgroup$
  – Organic Marble
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Re, "...the vehicle is at high altitude and moving away." Might be worth mentioning that rockets (not counting weapons fired in conflict) are virtually never launched over any populated area.
  $endgroup$
  – Solomon Slow
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  As the old proverb goes, "If a rocket produces a shock wave in the air, and nobody is around to hear, does it produce a sonic boom?" Or something like that.
  $endgroup$
  – Greg
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

6

$begingroup$

Definition of terms: A shock wave by itself is not a "sonic boom". A sonic boom is an event, produced by the shock(s) passing over something - an observer, a building, the ground. The "boom" is characterized by a rising/falling/rising pressure disturbance called an "N-wave" because the disturbance has the shape of an N when plotted. A model in a supersonic wind tunnel produces a shock wave but not a boom. Shock waves in rocket engine exhaust would not be called "sonic booms" either.

A sonic boom is heard by observers when the shock wave(s) produced by an object moving at supersonic speed passes by them. This is unlikely to happen with a rocket launch since the vehicle is at high altitude and moving away. The rocket produces a shock wave once it goes supersonic, but it probably won't pass by any observers.

(figure source)

Shuttle produced sonic booms on landing which could be heard by ground observers.

share|improve this answer

edited 5 hours ago

answered 9 hours ago

Organic MarbleOrganic Marble

66.8k44 gold badges188188 silver badges286286 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  "The shock wave must interact with something - an observer, a building, the ground - to produce the "boom". " That's not true. The pressure gradient (i.e. boom) is there, whether there's something to interact with or not. I'm reminded of philosophical statements like 'if a tree falls in the forest and there's nobody there to hear it, does it still make a sound?'.
  $endgroup$
  – Hobbes
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Thanks, edited to clarify.
  $endgroup$
  – Organic Marble
  5 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Re, "...the vehicle is at high altitude and moving away." Might be worth mentioning that rockets (not counting weapons fired in conflict) are virtually never launched over any populated area.
  $endgroup$
  – Solomon Slow
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  As the old proverb goes, "If a rocket produces a shock wave in the air, and nobody is around to hear, does it produce a sonic boom?" Or something like that.
  $endgroup$
  – Greg
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Definition of terms: A shock wave by itself is not a "sonic boom". A sonic boom is an event, produced by the shock(s) passing over something - an observer, a building, the ground. The "boom" is characterized by a rising/falling/rising pressure disturbance called an "N-wave" because the disturbance has the shape of an N when plotted. A model in a supersonic wind tunnel produces a shock wave but not a boom. Shock waves in rocket engine exhaust would not be called "sonic booms" either.

A sonic boom is heard by observers when the shock wave(s) produced by an object moving at supersonic speed passes by them. This is unlikely to happen with a rocket launch since the vehicle is at high altitude and moving away. The rocket produces a shock wave once it goes supersonic, but it probably won't pass by any observers.

(figure source)

Shuttle produced sonic booms on landing which could be heard by ground observers.

share|improve this answer

edited 5 hours ago

answered 9 hours ago

Organic MarbleOrganic Marble

66.8k44 gold badges188188 silver badges286286 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

edited 5 hours ago

answered 9 hours ago

Organic MarbleOrganic Marble

66.8k44 gold badges188188 silver badges286286 bronze badges

answered 9 hours ago

Organic MarbleOrganic Marble

66.8k44 gold badges188188 silver badges286286 bronze badges

answered 9 hours ago

Organic MarbleOrganic Marble

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4

$begingroup$

Yes, it produces a sonic boom. But the shockwave travels in the same direction as the rocket (i.e. up) and doesn't reach the ground.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

HobbesHobbes

99.4k22 gold badges288288 silver badges443443 bronze badges

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

4

$begingroup$

Yes, it produces a sonic boom. But the shockwave travels in the same direction as the rocket (i.e. up) and doesn't reach the ground.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

HobbesHobbes

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$endgroup$

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Yes, it produces a sonic boom. But the shockwave travels in the same direction as the rocket (i.e. up) and doesn't reach the ground.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

HobbesHobbes

99.4k22 gold badges288288 silver badges443443 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

HobbesHobbes

99.4k22 gold badges288288 silver badges443443 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

HobbesHobbes

99.4k22 gold badges288288 silver badges443443 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

HobbesHobbes

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1

$begingroup$

Think about what a sonic boom is. It's the shock wave caused by 'bunching up' of the compression waves of the body, moving through the air.

To see this, consider:

• For a stationary body emitting pressure waves, at any one point in time you only hear the sound emitted at another (slightly older) point in time.




• However if the body is moving faster than the speed of sound, you can be hearing the sound form the body at multiple points in time. An observer see these waves getting bunched up and interfering as the waves from the body go back and meet older waves travelling forward. This 'bunching up' is what causes the boom.

However, if you start behind the body, before it starts moving, all the sound waves hit you strictly in order so you never experience the bunching up.

Hence no boom. You still hear the sound waves that make up the boom, you just don't hear them all at once as a sonic boom.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

ANoneANone

1,11811 silver badge1010 bronze badges

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

1

$begingroup$

Think about what a sonic boom is. It's the shock wave caused by 'bunching up' of the compression waves of the body, moving through the air.

To see this, consider:

• For a stationary body emitting pressure waves, at any one point in time you only hear the sound emitted at another (slightly older) point in time.




• However if the body is moving faster than the speed of sound, you can be hearing the sound form the body at multiple points in time. An observer see these waves getting bunched up and interfering as the waves from the body go back and meet older waves travelling forward. This 'bunching up' is what causes the boom.

However, if you start behind the body, before it starts moving, all the sound waves hit you strictly in order so you never experience the bunching up.

Hence no boom. You still hear the sound waves that make up the boom, you just don't hear them all at once as a sonic boom.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

ANoneANone

1,11811 silver badge1010 bronze badges

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Think about what a sonic boom is. It's the shock wave caused by 'bunching up' of the compression waves of the body, moving through the air.

To see this, consider:

• For a stationary body emitting pressure waves, at any one point in time you only hear the sound emitted at another (slightly older) point in time.




• However if the body is moving faster than the speed of sound, you can be hearing the sound form the body at multiple points in time. An observer see these waves getting bunched up and interfering as the waves from the body go back and meet older waves travelling forward. This 'bunching up' is what causes the boom.

However, if you start behind the body, before it starts moving, all the sound waves hit you strictly in order so you never experience the bunching up.

Hence no boom. You still hear the sound waves that make up the boom, you just don't hear them all at once as a sonic boom.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

ANoneANone

1,11811 silver badge1010 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

ANoneANone

1,11811 silver badge1010 bronze badges

answered 6 hours ago

ANoneANone

1,11811 silver badge1010 bronze badges

answered 6 hours ago

ANoneANone

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