Question

Supersonic jet produces sonic boom in
A. Cone like area behind the jet
B. $10 - 100$ KM area.
C. Area of $10$ KM all around it.
D. Both A and B.

Answer 1

Hint: A sonic boom is the sound associated with the shock waves which are formed when an object in air travels faster than the speed of sound. Sonic booms due to large supersonic aircraft can be very loud.

Complete answer:
An aircraft which actually has the ability to fly faster than the speed of sound specifically is referred to as ‘Supersonic Jet’. The most important example of Supersonic jets are: Fighter Jets.

When an aircraft flies at supersonic speed it continuously generates shock waves, due to which sonic booms are dropped along the path of the flight. The sound heard on the ground as a sonic boom’ is sudden onset and release of pressure after the buildup by the shockwave.

Sonic boom is an impulsive loud voice. It is caused when an object moves at about $750$ miles per hour at sea level. Due to its faster speed the sound barrier breaks down and a pressure wave is generated in the shape of a cone. Sonic booms can be heard within the radius of $10$ KM area and the surrounding.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Additional information:
When a Supersonic flight, travel through the air at a pace greater than the truly nearby pace of sound, fairly opposite to popular perception. The velocity of sound varies with temperature and atmospheric pressure.

Note: An enormous amount of sound energy is produced by sonic booms. It sounds typically like an explosion. It may approach $100$ MW per square meter and may exceed \[200{\text{dB}}].