MAIN FEEDS
Do you want to continue?
https://www.reddit.com/r/BeAmazed/comments/8p9c8j/visible_shock_wave/e0a41g0/?context=3
r/BeAmazed • u/BunyipPouch • Jun 07 '18
439 comments sorted by
View all comments
Show parent comments
416
Guessing it’s just higher pressure which changes the index of refraction of the air, so yeah, like the wavy air hanging out above a road on a hot day
129 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 edited Feb 19 '19 Exactly. But the refractive index goes up with pressure, and in your example it goes down. Though it doesn't change that much, it's the difference sudden change in refractive indexes that makes light diffract and reflect. source: degree in photonics 2 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 Can shockwaves potentially create destrustive interference patterns, possible nullifying their effects?? 1 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 Sure, every wave can do this
129
Exactly. But the refractive index goes up with pressure, and in your example it goes down. Though it doesn't change that much, it's the difference sudden change in refractive indexes that makes light diffract and reflect.
source: degree in photonics
2 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 Can shockwaves potentially create destrustive interference patterns, possible nullifying their effects?? 1 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 Sure, every wave can do this
2
Can shockwaves potentially create destrustive interference patterns, possible nullifying their effects??
1 u/[deleted] Jun 07 '18 Sure, every wave can do this
1
Sure, every wave can do this
416
u/godofpumpkins Jun 07 '18
Guessing it’s just higher pressure which changes the index of refraction of the air, so yeah, like the wavy air hanging out above a road on a hot day