# Homework Help: Sonic boom plane altitude problem

1. Apr 14, 2006

### kellyneedshelp

Hi, I am having trouble with the following question:

A jet fighter in level flight passes directly overhead at a speed corresponding to Mach number 1.35. The sonic boom is heard by you on the ground 12.0 s later. What is the altitude of the plane? Assume (unrealistically) the speed of sound does not change with altitude. Answer should be in km.

I know that Mach numbers are velocity(object)/velocity(medium) which gives:
1.35 = velocity(object)/343 m/s, therefore velocity of the plane is 463.05 m/s

From there I took the time, 12.0s, and multiplied by 463.05m/s to get 5556.6 m, or 5.5566km, but this is not right.

COuld anyone offer me some suggestions for this one? Thanks!!!!!

2. Apr 14, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
Why can't you simply use;

$$v = \frac{ds}{dt}$$

-Hoot

3. Apr 14, 2006

### kellyneedshelp

sorry, I am not familiar with how to use that kind of equation, could you explain what it means, please? thanks!

4. Apr 14, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
I meant, why does the velocity of the aircraft matter in how long it takes the sound to reach the ground?

-Hoot

5. Apr 14, 2006

### kellyneedshelp

do you mean that i should just use the velocity of the speed of sound?
so, 343 m/s * 12.0 s = 4116 m = 4.116 km ?

i was thinking the velocity of the plane does matter b/c since it is above mach 1, it makes a cone shaped wave, but does this not matter?

thank you!

6. Apr 14, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
It is this cone (or the rapid pressure change between the base of the cone and the atmospheric pressure) that creates the sonic boom. Your answer appears correct.

-Hoot

7. Apr 14, 2006

### kellyneedshelp

ok thank you, although apparently 4.116 km is not right either so i am still confused about this one...

8. Apr 14, 2006

### arunbg

I believe only the velocity of light has the unique property of being constant no matter at what velocity the observer or the listener are moving.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I feel velocity of sound is affected by the speed of the aircraft.

- Arun

9. Apr 14, 2006

### kellyneedshelp

so any ideas on how to factor in the speed of the aircraft with the speed at which the sound reaches the observer?

10. Apr 14, 2006

### Staff: Mentor

Hints & Suggestions:

(1) What angle does the sonic cone make with the horizontal?

(2) The moment you hear the sound is the moment the cone hits you.

(3) Consider the triangle formed by you, the point overhead, and the point where the plane is at the moment you hear the boom.

Last edited: Apr 14, 2006
11. Apr 14, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
Ahh, it all makes sense now!!That's why you need the velcoity of the aircraft!! That's been doing my head in for the past hour! :grumpy: Thanks for answering Doc Al you've put my mind at rest

-Hoot

12. Apr 14, 2006

### kellyneedshelp

so the angle of the cone is found by: sin(theta)=1/Mach#=.7407, so theta = 47.8degrees (approx). since the plane is flying horizontal, divide this angle by 2 and get 23.9degrees (1)

(3)triangle is a right triangel with sides as distances from "you" to point overhead and point overhead to point where plane is when "you" hear the sound (that's the right angle). the angle from "you" to the plane when you hear it is 90-23.9=66.1degrees.
i can fill in tan(66.1)=55566m/x and solve for x and get:
x=24620m or 24.6km

am i understanding this correctly? if so, does my math look correct, b/c i am still getting the wrong answer...

thanks!!

13. Apr 14, 2006

### Staff: Mentor

Phoey. I don't get it. My little Post-It diagram still has the vertical component of the velocity diagram at mach 1. The horizontal is the plane at mach 1.35, but I still get mach 1 for 12 seconds for the vertical displacement. Any more hints for a Friday-impaired brain?

14. Apr 14, 2006

### kellyneedshelp

anyone know if i am picturing the triangle correctly?
thanks!

15. Apr 14, 2006

### Staff: Mentor

Why did you divide by 2?

16. Apr 14, 2006

### kellyneedshelp

should i not divide by two?
it is difficult to explain why i thought i should in writing but i'll try:

so the cone is horizontal to the ground (on its side, for a lack of a better way of explaining it), with the imaginary parallel horizon going through the cone, splitting it in half, sort of like if you split an equilateral triangle down the middle from one point to the opposite side how you get two right triangles. so i split the angle in half, and since that imaginary horizon is parrallel to the ground, it makes a right angle (90 degrees) with the distance to the ground (overhead point to "you" point) so that is why I did 90-half the cone angle. it made sense to me when i drew it out, but i'm not sure if i am explaining it correctly or if that is just totally incorrect.

so i guess i am still

17. Apr 14, 2006

### FredGarvin

18. Apr 14, 2006

### kellyneedshelp

ohhh i did not know that, thanks! so does this look right, then:
tan(47.8)=x/55566m, so x=61.27km?
it still says this is wrong, so am i setting it up wrong still?

thanks!!

19. Apr 14, 2006

### Staff: Mentor

You're setting it up just fine, but check your arithmetic for the distance the plane flies.

20. Apr 14, 2006

### kellyneedshelp

aha! so it is just off by one decimal place

thanks everyone, i get it!