How Long Before Hearing a Sonic Boom from a Supersonic Plane at Mach 3?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a supersonic plane flying at Mach 3 at an altitude of 20,000 meters, with a focus on determining the time it takes for the sonic boom to reach a person on the ground directly below the flight path.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants express uncertainty about how to begin solving the problem and seek guidance on relevant equations. There is a discussion about the nature of the sonic boom and its travel time from the plane to the observer on the ground.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively questioning which equations to use and are exploring the relationship between speed, time, and distance. Some guidance has been offered regarding the need to consider the speed of sound and the assumption of its constancy during the sound's travel.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the need to assume the speed of sound remains constant as it travels from the altitude of the plane to the ground level.

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Homework Statement



A supersonic plane flies at Mach 3 at an altitude of 20,000 m. A person on the ground sees the plane directly overhead. How much time passes the before she hears the sonic boom?

Homework Equations



f=fo(v+-vo/v-+vs)

The Attempt at a Solution



I don't really know how to start up with this one, I was hoping for some help here.
 
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ScienceGeek24 said:

Homework Statement



A supersonic plane flies at Mach 3 at an altitude of 20,000 m. A person on the ground sees the plane directly overhead. How much time passes the before she hears the sonic boom?

Homework Equations



f=fo(v+-vo/v-+vs)

The Attempt at a Solution



I don't really know how to start up with this one, I was hoping for some help here.

The sonic boom is just a noise produced by the plane, which has to travel 20,000m to reach you.
The answer would be the same if it was a helicopter hovering at 20000m then firing a really loud gun - or with a really big sound system playing AC-DC.
 
So what equation do you suggest I can use to start up the problem?
 
ScienceGeek24 said:
So what equation do you suggest I can use to start up the problem?

You want to calculate the time taken for sound to travel 20000m. What equation do you think you need - it connects speed, time and distance?

You will need to know the speed of sound - and will probably have to make the assumption that it remains constant all the way from up there to down where you are!
 

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