- #1
Mikey
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A supersonic aircraft is flying parallel to the ground. When the aircraft is directly overhead, an observer sees a rocket fired from the aircraft. Ten seconds later the observer hears the sonic boom, followed 2.80 s later by the sound of the rocket engine. What is the Mach number of the aircraft?
The answer is supposed to be 1.60. I have no idea what the rocket has to do with the aircraft... it would probably help to have an equation for the rocket and for the aircraft so that I can cancel out things like the velocity of sound in air, which I'm pretty sure I can't assume. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to get any equations knowing just the change in time. Oh, and I know that the rocket being directly overhead is important, but I can't figure what I'm supposed to get from that.
Thanks for your help!
The answer is supposed to be 1.60. I have no idea what the rocket has to do with the aircraft... it would probably help to have an equation for the rocket and for the aircraft so that I can cancel out things like the velocity of sound in air, which I'm pretty sure I can't assume. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to get any equations knowing just the change in time. Oh, and I know that the rocket being directly overhead is important, but I can't figure what I'm supposed to get from that.
Thanks for your help!
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