Difference between shock wave and shock ?

AI Thread Summary
A shock wave is a propagating disturbance in a medium, often associated with sudden changes in pressure and density, such as those produced by explosions. In contrast, a shock refers to a contact discontinuity in these properties, which can occur in stationary forms known as standing shocks. While shock waves are linked to sound frequencies, shocks are more closely related to electromagnetic radiation frequencies. The terminology can be somewhat flexible, but the key distinction lies in the propagation of the shock wave versus the static nature of a shock. Understanding these differences is crucial for clarity in discussions about wave dynamics and material responses.
sam_021
Messages
38
Reaction score
0
So I know what a shock wave is but what's a shock ?
is it just the front of the shock wave ?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
A shock wave is also known as the sound frequency. Shock would be classified as the electromagnetic radiation frequency.
 
onlinementor said:
A shock wave is also known as the sound frequency. Shock would be classified as the electromagnetic radiation frequency.
You might be confused about your terminology onlinementor; your response isn't correct, and seems to be quite unrelated as-well.

sam_021 said:
So I know what a shock wave is but what's a shock ?
is it just the front of the shock wave ?

These are (obviously) very related terms. In general, a 'shock' is a contact discontinuity in pressure and/or density of a material. There is often (if not always) a similar discontinuity in temperature, specific energy, entropy etc.
A 'shock wave' is a 'shock' which is propagating along/through the medium---e.g. from an explosion, or non-equilibrium accretion process.

There can be 'standing shocks' in which the shock is stationary; generally this would not be referred to as a shock 'wave' (but the terminology is somewhat loose).
 

Thread 'Potential biosignature found in Mars rock'

Publication: Redox-driven mineral and organic associations in Jezero Crater, Mars Article: NASA Says Mars Rover Discovered Potential Biosignature Last Year Press conference The ~100 authors don't find a good way this could have formed without life, but also can't rule it out. Now that they have shared their findings with the larger community someone else might find an explanation - or maybe it was actually made by life.
View full post »

Thread 'Does it make sense to build new radio telescopes?'

TL;DR Summary: In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect alien signals, it will further expand the radius of the so-called silence (or rather, radio silence) of the Universe. Is there any sense in this or is blissful ignorance better? In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect...
View full post »
Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'

Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'

This is indirectly evidenced by a map of the distribution of gamma-ray bursts in the night sky, made in the form of an elongated globe. And also the weakening of gamma radiation by the disk and the center of the Milky Way, which leads to anisotropy in the possibilities of observing gamma-ray bursts. My line of reasoning is as follows: 1. Gamma radiation should be absorbed to some extent by dust and other components of the interstellar medium. As a result, with an extragalactic origin, fewer...
View full post »

Similar threads

B Shock wave data from nuclear tests
Replies
31
Views
2K
I What is the speed of a shock wave?
Replies
13
Views
5K
G-force to pressure relationship inside a shock wave
Replies
18
Views
3K
I What is the new source of space radiation discovered near Earth?
Replies
46
Views
11K
What is the mathematical model for a traffic shock wave?
Replies
22
Views
2K
Best Egg Drop Contest Shock Absorber?
Replies
1
Views
711
I A Question About Shock Waves From an Airplane
2
Replies
82
Views
7K
Shock absorber forces
Replies
4
Views
2K
Difference between blast & shock wave
Replies
5
Views
13K
I Finding the time for the first shock for a quasilinear first order PDE
Replies
4
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top