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Samia qureshi
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As speed of the sounding source approaches speed of sound, sonic boom is heard...
Can it happen in terms of light too.. ?
Can it happen in terms of light too.. ?
Samia qureshi said:As speed of the sounding source approaches speed of sound, sonic boom is heard...
Can it happen in terms of light too.. ?
Cherenkov_radiation its a new term for me had never heard about it before let me read it first Thank youGarlic said:Yes. Cherenkov radiation is what you are looking for.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherenkov_radiation
In short, when an electrically charged particle moves faster than the "speed of light in a medium", it emits photons, the so called cherenkov radiation.
Samia qureshi said:Thank you
This can certainly be achieved using microwaves, rather than light. Particles cannot travel at c so it is always necessary that the EM wave is deliberately slowed down for this to work. You can use a 'slow wave structure', for instance a helical transmission line, to accelerate charged particles. A wave that's launched along the helix will have a series of maxes and mins of E field that sweep along the helix. Electrons can be caught by the fields in the wave and accelerated. That sounds a lot like 'surfing' to me.Kevin McHugh said:Can anything surf a light wave either in a medium or a vacuum?
sophiecentaur said:This can certainly be achieved using microwaves, rather than light. Particles cannot travel at c so it is always necessary that the EM wave is deliberately slowed down for this to work. You can use a 'slow wave structure', for instance a helical transmission line, to accelerate charged particles. A wave that's launched along the helix will have a series of maxes and mins of E field that sweep along the helix. Electrons can be caught by the fields in the wave and accelerated. That sounds a lot like 'surfing' to me.
A linear accelerator, used in modern X ray machines, used for radiotherapy, works on a similar principle by E fields, sweeping along the accelerator tube.
A sonic boom is a loud sound produced when an object travels through the air faster than the speed of sound. It is caused by a shock wave that forms around the object as it moves, creating a sudden change in air pressure. This is similar to the wake behind a boat, but instead of water, it is a wave of compressed air. The intensity of the boom depends on factors such as the size and speed of the object, and atmospheric conditions.
The speed of sound varies depending on the medium it is traveling through, but in dry air at room temperature, it is approximately 343 meters per second (767 miles per hour). This is much slower than the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (670,616,629 miles per hour). In fact, light travels over 874,000 times faster than sound.
The speed of light is important in understanding sonic booms because it is the fastest possible speed in the universe. As an object approaches the speed of sound, it also approaches the speed of light. At this point, the air in front of the object cannot move out of the way fast enough, causing a shock wave to form. This is a fundamental physical limit and is key to understanding the behavior of sonic booms.
The shape of an object can greatly influence the production of a sonic boom. Objects with pointed or rounded shapes create smaller shock waves, resulting in a quieter boom. On the other hand, objects with flat surfaces or sharp edges create larger shock waves, resulting in a louder boom. This is why aircraft are designed with streamlined shapes to reduce the intensity of the sonic boom.
Yes, there can be negative effects of sonic booms on the environment and living beings. The loud noise can cause damage to structures and disrupt wildlife. It can also be a nuisance to people living in the vicinity of areas where sonic booms occur frequently. Additionally, repeated exposure to sonic booms can have negative effects on human health, including hearing loss and increased stress levels. This is why there are regulations in place to limit the frequency and intensity of sonic booms in populated areas.