Does the shape or speed affect the frequency of a sonic boom and if so in what way?
Is the frequency of a sonic boom always the same? If so, what frequency is it and why is it that frequency?
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
4
-
4$\begingroup$ A sonic boom is a shock wave, not an oscillating wave. How do you propose to define its pitch? $\endgroup$– The PhotonCommented Jul 2, 2017 at 3:44
-
2$\begingroup$ @ThePhoton While it's true that, in Fourier analysis, a zero-duration pressure change is a superposition of all wavelengths and doesn't have a well-defined pitch, it's also true that real shockwaves have finite duration and some pitches resonate longer than others. For instance, a whip crack (produced when the tip of the whip exceeds the speed of sound) sounds different from a sonic boom from an aircraft, and one reasonable way to describe the difference is through the sensation of pitch. $\endgroup$– rob ♦Commented Jul 2, 2017 at 4:51
-
1$\begingroup$ @rob - I agree with what you said but the aircraft example may be a bad one because part of the sound is due to the aircraft engines and the numerous changes in cross-section can cause individual sound waves of different amplitudes to obscure the sound heard at ground (i.e., prolonged and modulated sound). $\endgroup$– honeste_vivereCommented Jul 6, 2017 at 14:22
-
$\begingroup$ According to Wikipedia, the frequency range of a sonic boom is between 0.1 to 100 Hz and is dependent on a number of factors: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_boom Hope this helps $\endgroup$– Stevan V. SabanCommented May 19, 2022 at 21:31
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
"Pitch" is an attribute defined by the human sensation of sound. Therefore it is highly non trivial to connect it with a physical phenomenon very firmly (read: don't do that). The process of hearing is not fully understood, but if there is a signal processing operation roughly approximating it, it would be the cross-(or auto-)correlation in time, i.e. real-time comparing of short samples. In such procedure the fourier-like approach is inherently present without switching to the frequency domain.
From this very rough approach follows that periodicity is the key to a "constant sensation" of sound on which the pitch relays. But the sonic boom (as a shock-wave) is purely non-periodic. That is the issue.
But there are some more "buts". I am not covering all of them certainly.
Context (perception). What was just before the sonic boom? Silence? Or build-up of loudness? Does something sound simultaneously? Is it tone-like or noise-like? Recall the correlation. It really matters.
Context (physics). The pure shock wave is only an idealization. There are multiple approaches and scenarios counting viscosity and severe entropy changes in (see e.g. Hamilton and Blackstock: Nonlinear Acoustics). And don't forget the effects of sound propagation. Air isn't very dispersive but we are talking about very loud sounds. Also the resonant effects of buildings and terrain in the nearby is to be mentioned. It can affect a "pitch" of pulse like sound decisively.
answered Jul 3, 2017 at 13:33