Flying at the Speed of Sound: What Would a Human Feel?

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SUMMARY

This discussion explores the hypothetical experience of a human flying at the speed of sound using a jetpack. Participants agree that while sound waves would pile up in front of the individual, the sensation would be influenced by factors such as air pressure and drag. The conversation references Newton's second law and the effects of air friction, concluding that without adequate protection, a human would face lethal conditions. Additionally, the discussion touches on Joseph Kittinger's historical free-fall, debating whether he broke the sound barrier during his descent.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's second law of motion
  • Knowledge of aerodynamic drag and wave drag
  • Familiarity with supersonic flight dynamics
  • Basic principles of atmospheric pressure and temperature at high altitudes
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of drag at supersonic speeds
  • Study the physics of sound waves and their interaction with moving objects
  • Explore the design and materials used in high-altitude protective suits
  • Investigate Joseph Kittinger's free-fall and its implications for breaking the sound barrier
USEFUL FOR

Aerospace engineers, physicists, and enthusiasts interested in the effects of supersonic travel on the human body and the historical context of high-altitude free-fall experiments.

  • #31
Wow, this is great. I haven't posted in awhile, but there's lots of good stuff here, things I didn't even think about. I did have an idea: what does a fighter pilot experience who ejects out of a plane at Mach+ speed? By Newton's 1rst Law, the pilot travels at Mach+ speed while inside the airplane. During the first view moments after he ejects, by Newton's 1rst Law, he will continue with a tangent velocity the same as what he had inside the plane. That means, as a human, he would be traveling at Mach+ speeds for awhile, unless his parachute opens too quick. In this case, the human would be traveling faster than the sound barrier. Would such a case be analgous to the free fall scenerios depicted below? If so, that might answer the question of what a person experiences traveling at Mach Speed through the answer.
 
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  • #32
I am not sure that pilots ever do eject at those speeds. It would be quite dangerous.
 

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