Shock Wave Front: How Does Source Movement Create Waves?

AI Thread Summary
When a source is not vibrating, it does not generate waves through vibration, but its movement can still disturb the medium. If the source moves faster than the speed of sound, it creates a shock wave due to the source being ahead of the sound waves it generates. This phenomenon is related to the Doppler effect, where waves superimpose behind the moving source. Visualizing the moving source and wave fronts helps clarify how these waves combine. Understanding these concepts leads to a clearer grasp of shock wave formation.
tina21
Messages
14
Reaction score
2
Homework Statement
When a vibrating source moves through a medium with speed V, speed of propagation of wave is v. A conical wavefront is set up independent of time. What happens when the source is not vibrating?
Relevant Equations
Sin(theta) = v/V
So when the source is not vibrating, it is not setting waves due to vibration? But it is moving so it is still causing disturbance in the medium ... And I happened to read that if the source is moving faster than the speed of sound, a shock wave is set up. How ?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Read about Doppler's effect; the shock wave is there because the source is always ahead of the sound wave it creates; behind the source, there will be a region where waves superimpose; sketch the moving plane, sketch few wave fronts and you will see how they combine. Look up Sonic Bum.
 
  • Like
Likes tina21
I understand now. Thank you so much :smile:
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Sound waves affected by wind/sound waves in materials
Replies
13
Views
2K
Does the speed of sound depend on the speed of the medium?
Replies
4
Views
1K
Why does a traveling wave pulse get distorted?
Replies
17
Views
2K
Question about Waves on a String
Replies
2
Views
2K
Energy and radius of a shock wave
Replies
6
Views
2K
I How do shockwaves in a 1D linear lattice work?
Replies
8
Views
1K
Why can shock waves condense water vapor?
Replies
6
Views
3K
Sound Wave Interference and Finding the Path Differences with Diagrams
Replies
20
Views
5K
How Does Loudspeaker Movement Affect the Phase of Reflected Waves?
Replies
3
Views
1K
I How fast does a blastwave travel?
5
Replies
236
Views
13K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top