The spelling of "sonic boom" is based on the sound it represents, which is a loud and explosive noise caused by shockwaves generated by an object breaking the sound barrier. In International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription, "sonic" is written as /ˈsɒnɪk/ and "boom" as /buːm/. The "s" sound in "sonic" is followed by a short "o" sound and a strong stress on the second syllable. The "oo" sound in "boom" is pronounced long and is followed by a soft "m" sound.
A sonic boom is a loud explosive noise created by an object's movement through the air, occurring when the object travels at or above the speed of sound, which is approximately 343 meters per second (1,125 feet per second) under normal atmospheric conditions. This disturbance in the surrounding air produces a sudden shock wave, generating the characteristic loud, thunder-like sound known as a sonic boom.
The creation of a sonic boom is typically associated with supersonic aircraft, such as fighter jets or the Concorde, as they exceed the speed of sound and break the sound barrier. As the aircraft surpasses the speed of sound, the pressure waves generated by its movement become compressed into a cone-shaped shock wave. If the shock wave intersects with the ground surface, it can result in the sonic boom being heard on the ground below.
Sonic booms are highly dependent on various factors, including the aircraft's altitude, distance from observers, and weather conditions. They are often characterized by a sharp and powerful noise that can startle individuals and may cause minor disturbance or damage to structures in certain circumstances. Recognizing the potential disruption caused by sonic booms, regulations have been put in place to restrict supersonic flight over populated areas.
Although sonic booms primarily originate from aircraft, they can also be generated by other high-speed objects, such as rockets, bullets, or meteorites, when they exceed the speed of sound in the Earth's atmosphere.
The word "sonic boom" is derived from two components: "sonic" and "boom".
1. Sonic: The term "sonic" relates to sound or the sensation of hearing. It comes from the Latin word "sonus", meaning "sound", which further traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root *"swṓnus". This root is also responsible for the formation of words like "sound" in English.
2. Boom: In the context of "sonic boom", the word "boom" refers to a deep, resonant sound or a loud noise. It originated in the late 16th century, derived from Middle Dutch and Low German words like "boom" and "baum", which mean "tree". These words were initially used to describe a loud noise similar to the crashing or falling of a tree.