Comments on: Free Falling From 120,000 Feet, is It Possible To Break The Sound Barrier?

By: Butterbean

Butterbean — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:31:59 +0000

The velocity of sound changes with altitude.

Altitude ….Altitude …. Velocity …. Velocity

..(Km) …….(feet) ……. (m/sec) …… (mi/hr)

0 ……………. 0 ……….. 340……. 761
10 ……… 33000 ……….. 300 …… 671
20 ……… 66000 ……….. 295 …… 660
30.5 …. 100000 ……….. 302 … … 676 **** starting alt. 1
36.5 …. 120000 ……….. 310 .. …. 693 **** starting alt. 2

40 ……. 131000 ……….. 317……. 709
50 ……. 164000 ……….. 330 …… 738
60 ……..197000 ……….. 315 …… 705
85 ……. 279000 ……….. 275 …… 615

Between 11 Km and 20 Km or about 36000 and 66000 feet there is a window
where the velocity of sound is a minimum at 295 m/sec or 660 mi/hr. Whether
one jumps from 120000 ft or 100000 feet, I don’t think it will matter unless the
aerodynamics of the jumper is improved. This is because if the sound barrier
wasn’t broken when going by 11 Km to 20 Km region when jumping from 30.5 Km
then it won’t be broken when jumping from 36.5 Km.
References :
COESA, U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (tabulated data).

By: Fah King Genius

Fah King Genius — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:56:59 +0000

the "sound barrier" and the conditions necessary to make a sonic boom vary WIDELY with air temperature, air pressure, and things like humidity, dust or pullution, even wind currents… he could be diving into a 60mph updraft, for example. We know from aircraft re-entry, for example, that to "maintain" a sonic boom, to stay AT the threshold of mach 1 an aircraft must ACCELERATE as it falls…. it CANT maintain the same airspeed as the air gets denser.

The short answer to your question is "yes" its possible
References :

By: Larry454

Larry454 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:37:59 +0000

Since the speed of sound on a standard day at 70,0000 ft drops to 660 mph, it might be possible. Conditions don’t change much at that altitude, but the speed of sound varies with altitude and temperature.
References :

By: Yahoo!Answers

Yahoo!Answers — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:52:59 +0000

Give it a try and let us know.
References :

By: George

George — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:28:59 +0000

Sound barrier is 760 mph. Somehow I can’t see it being possible picking up an extra 160 mph with only 18,000 feet higher.
References :

By: Starrysky

Starrysky — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:18:59 +0000

Depends upon configuration of what is falling. If a person in a space suit and backpack life support only and a drogue chute falls to reach terminal velocity, the buildup of air in a shock wave will buffet him and slow him down short of speed of sound.
But if the person straps a nosecone on his feet, has an air shield around his body, and a minimal drogue chute, it may be possible to break through that "barrier" of high pressure shock wave.
References :