Shock Wave Front: How Does Source Movement Create Waves?

[tina21]

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 ?

 

[MrsZee]

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.

 

[tina21]

I understand now. Thank you so much