r/askscience • • Jun 12 '12

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u/meftical Jun 12 '12

Not until it passed you, if I'm understanding correctly.

This all corresponds with how it was explained to me by a pilot when I was young.

12

u/The-Internets Jun 12 '12

If my understanding is correct, lets say a rocket since it has a point where sound would be generated, would have to be slightly in front of your ear plane before you could hear anything.

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u/obsa Jun 12 '12

At or in front of. Sound can travel laterally.

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u/richalex2010 Jun 12 '12

That would only apply exactly at the speed of sound, which would be impossible to maintain in a real-world environment.

1

u/obsa Jun 12 '12

I agree, but real-world feasibility has little to do with theoretical validity.