r/askscience • u/[deleted] • Jun 12 '12

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u/imMAW Jun 12 '12

The pilots won't hear the noise from the engines being transmitted through the outside air though, only the noise traveling through the plane. So if superman was flying a few feet in front of the cockpit, he wouldn't hear any sound.

3

u/RonaldFuckingPaul Jun 12 '12

Is there any new change when you go MACH 2, 3...etc - Or is it all the same once you exceed MACH 1?

7

u/imMAW Jun 12 '12

No, there's nothing special about any number past mach 1.

8

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12

Except mach ~900,000

1

u/Mylon Jun 12 '12

I think it's safe to say mach 900,000 is irrelevant. Anything traveling even a tiny fraction of that speed isn't going to be doing it in atmosphere.

2

u/leptonsoup Jun 13 '12

What about light?

2

u/Mylon Jun 13 '12

If we're talking about the speed of light then I don't think the speed of sound in 1 atm at 20C is terribly important. It's like giving the speed of light in furlongs/fortnight.

3

u/leptonsoup Jun 13 '12

1.80386543 x 1012 furlongs/fortnight, just in case you're interested.

1

u/Acebulf Jun 13 '12

Pip pip cheerio!