June
12
What would happen if the sound barrier were broken underwater?
Author: admin Category: Uncategorized
I'm not asking "can it be done?" (I know it would be impossible), I'm more referring to how the equivalent "sonic boom" would manifest itself underwater. The speed of sound in air is 768 mph, and sound travels 4.4X that in water. So, the sound barrier under water would be 3379 mph. Now, what would happen (hypothetically) if a "magical submarine" were to exceed that speed under water? Tsunami? Vaporize the ocean? Kill the whales?
There would be tremendous shock wave which as you surmise would be equivalent to a tsunami - but the energy needed to do this would be huge and so technically impossible.
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June 12th, 2009
There would be tremendous shock wave which as you surmise would be equivalent to a tsunami - but the energy needed to do this would be huge and so technically impossible.
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June 12th, 2009
What you need is some estimate of the energy involved, and then an estimate of how much of that energy will be transferred to the water. Once you have the energy limits then you can make sensible estimates of some of the effects. Most interesting would be what the chances of a "sonic" boom would be and what form that might take - imagine the "crack" of passing space shuttle being translated into a pulse of condensed water…. it will probably crush everything in its path.
don't know how to estimate the energy - its not just the KE of your sub, but the work that has to be done to shove the water out of the way, and down deep that water really doesn't want to move. A good Fermi problem for someone. I haven't the time now ( or perhaps the ability ). Good question
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