You'll NEVER Hear a Sonic Boom From a Rocket??

[@jmur3040]

Mantis shrimp got snubbed in the Boomies.

[@teaurn]

Yup, should have got the 'smallest' prize!

[@1n20DnD]

And would have made for another cool visual. 😎

[@archivist17]

​@teaurn I thought 'Most Common'

[@flibblebot]

I was just coming here to post exactly the same thing 😁

[@MikeKellyface]

Oh noooo!😢

[@petercudmore8608]

As a 20 year veteran physics teacher I can say this is one of the best descriptions of the phenomenon I have seen online and this will so be used by my class this year. I also love being able to give my female physics students a role model so they can see themselves in physics and engineering and you are great for that. Please keep making more of these although i also love showing your engineering videos to my robotics class as they show how much prototyping, retooling, redesigning, etc that is necessary to make things actually work. Thanks for this and all the other content.. (btw one of your flight proven Seasons Yeetings ornaments has a place of pride in my classroom)

[@xylafoxlin]

Aw thank you so much!

[@TitoRigatoni]

If you're looking for additional good videos to show your students, check out the Animagraffs video "How the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Works". There is a ton of useful information in that video, about sonic booms and a whole range of other related topics.

[@DUKE_of_RAMBLE]

Xyla as a guest speaker! 👍

[@Anon54387]

@@xylafoxlin Good presentation, but in all that you never mentioned that where you can hear the boom is within the conic section ie where the ground intersects the cone of the sonic boom. Parts of calculus books are devoted to conic sections, and that is a succinct way to look at it.

[@KaiHenningsen]

@@Anon54387 That's what the carpet is.

[@kmbr75]

I'm actually a middle school science teacher and I had to comment to that this video is really well done. Probably not something I would use in everyday middle school classes, but something I would absolutely use as a resource at either an extra-curricular level or high school level. The information, visuals of the video, and clarity in presentation of information all merged together really well to create an engaging and comprehendible video. Nice job! Would love to see more like this from you. (As a side-note, I've shown your videos before in extra-curricular or off-day settings as an example of an awesome woman in science and engineering putting her work out in an engaging way for kids to discover. Love your channel; keep it up!)

[@christinezacharer1035]

As a high school science teacher...I agree, but I would change or explain that sound waves are longitudinal pressure waves and not transverse sine waves...especially the graphic showing the sine wave emanating from the speaker. This is a very well done and clear video about sonic booms. Thank you for both making this and sharing this Xyla. This would be a very relatable EDpuzzle for an introduction to Physics class.

[@albatross8361]

@@christinezacharer1035 As I am a bit slow, I found it really helped to watch the video at 0.75 speed, much easier to understand that way.

[@DUKE_of_RAMBLE]

​@@albatross8361 On the other end, I've found watching at 1.5x helps fight ADD/ADHD... at least for me. Overstimulating makes it so I have to focus *_more,_* thereby having less chance of being distracted.

[@PaulDriverPlus]

Teachers, always causing problems, another thread I have to leave before it devolves. Trust me, if I stay, it'll go badly. (Grumble grumble grumble )

[@fakshen1973]

@@christinezacharer1035 The sine wave doesn't represent the actual wave being propagated through our environment (atmosphere, the reflective surfaces surrounding us etc). It's more of a representation of the electronically recorded waveform. It's what we would basically need to record the sound in the environment and then reproduce that sound artificially via a loudspeaker. It's an acceptable substitute for a brief explanation of soundwaves... the same way one would describe a force vector with an arrow.

[@codespace1337]

Definitely keep making science explainers; you're good at it, and they're fun to watch. Also really enjoyed the quality of the animations, your animator(s) did a fantastic job.

[@jakobrosenqvist4691]

So you draw them in with bullet proof dresses, rocket powered christmas trees and stripper jokes and then when they least expect it you hit them with educational content. Very sneaky, I like it.

[@josephgonzalez9342]

Literally this meme (except the dino is Xyla with science facts): i0.wp.com/mediachomp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/zzclever-who-comic-01.jpg?resize=680%2C340&ssl=1

[@DUKE_of_RAMBLE]

Bullet proof dress on Taofledermaus was my introduction to Xyla 👗🔫 🤘😫🤘

[@jakobrosenqvist4691]

@DUKE_of_RAMBLE I was lucky and caught the very first of the canoe videos.

[@patchvonbraun]

I loved this format, Xyla. A mix of this format and "watch me make something cool" on your channel would be great! Back when I was a "steely-eyed missile man" and ran my own teensy aerospace company, I was at the launch of many supersonic rockets. Never heard a boom once--for precisely the reasons you describe. Was at the launch of a minimum-diameter, "O' class vehicle that was predicted to go to 12+km, and hit mach 3 on the way up. When it came back (a few hours after launch), the gorgeous paint job had been stripped away from the front meter of the vehicle due to aero heating. This was with Mike Dennett who was with Cesaroni Aerospace at the time.

[@dcplunkett]

"How's your back feeling?" Ouch.

[@flibblebot]

I was alive in 1991 and my back is fine, thanks for asking. My knees, on the other hand...🤣

[@kd2eat]

It's the knees... and hips... But most have been replaced at this point. lol

[@michaelsalyer8155]

What did she say?? I couldn't hear it over the racket of those kids on my lawn.

[@tompw3141]

So "ouch" is a good description of how you're back is feeling?

[@kleinesren7064]

now that you spell it out, I get the joke. Whew I am slow today... Slept bad because of my bad back

[@Project-Air]

Those animations (especially the supersonic Cessna) were so good!! Lovely video 😊

[@knussear]

And here I thought I was the only one watching the C140 break the sound barrier!

[@simongeard4824]

@@knussear Yeah, that put me in mind of some of the XKCD exercises that dropped a Cessna into various planetary bodies...

[@xylafoxlin]

Hehehe, thank you!!!!

[@watchbot7517]

Ms. Foxlin is the coolest substitute teacher, she lets us watch rocket videos

[@mikeconnery4652]

Yup so true😊

[@glasslinger]

But I want a cat video! :)

[@jamesroggy1546]

Dam contact lenses............. Ok ill get help but its a valid point.

[@SeanCMonahan]

Ms. Foxlin is the coolest cool substitute teacher: she makes her own rocket videos!

[@PaulDriverPlus]

I'm walking away, this thread is going to cause problems, especially if I stay here. 😂😢

[@LeeCarlson]

Your channel is one of my teen's favorites because of her love of science and engineering. Anything you produce will get her logging on within moments of getting home to see what you are doing.

[@KevinH.Rev0]

I enjoyed Science educator Xyla, good job! Also another sonic-boom analogue is the wake of a boat. that's what happens when the boat is going faster than the waves it makes, and that may be a great visualization for why you don't hear the boom from a rocket. start with a boat at the shore and have it go straight out until it is going 2.2 times the speed of waves, then see if the wake ever gets back to that same point.

[@skucera8116]

Yes, Xyla, this type of video is very much appreciated. I may be a test engineer, but there was an age when I would have really appreciated this sort of explanation with such clear imagery. Well done. Keep up the great work.

[@andrewedgecombe]

Loved the really clear, and thorough, description! The animations/artwork that went with them were spot on, and worked perfectly. Really nicely done, and I'd love to see what other topics you find to bring your educator skills to!

[@DominusFeles]

Side project for the next rocket: weather balloon with a 360 camera and a nice microphone.

[@markfickett2591]

Wouldn't be ridiculously high for an RC plane either. Above the 400' standard legal limit, but if you got clearance (which might already be covered for the rocket launches?) I could see using powered flight to get up, then turning off the prop when the rocket is launched to record clean A/V.

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

@@markfickett2591 Most of the sound is coming from wind noise, not the prop or motor. It would pick up the boom, but the audio quality would be trash.

[@JulienVanier]

Very high production value. Awesome work!

[@BayAreaBerk]

Lady in STEM, Expressive Face, Expressive Hands, Warm looking Purple Velour Jumpsuit (super-comfy looking), I get to Learn Stuff- This is a great day...

[@NFTI]

The animation of how the sonic boom forms was fantastic. Whole video was great!

[@01001Wintermute]

Basil Brush the British childrens entertainer still holds the world record for the most powerful BOOM BOOM known to man.

[@andrewjknott]

Pistol Shrimp for Boomy award. A little shrimp has a huge snapping claw that can snap and create a cavitation in the water. The tiny cavitation bubble is compressed and collapses causing a sonic boom, enormous heat (5000+ C) and sometimes light. It can kill or stun other aquatic life.

[@idontknow124]

Agreed. I hear my pistol shrimp snapping every day!

[@Skinflaps_Meatslapper]

Their speed is still only a paltry fraction of the speed of sound, you probably drive your car faster than the speed of their claws on your way to work. Inducing cavitation does not require you to be moving at the speed of sound, nor is it an indication that the object that created the bubble has gone supersonic.

[@thedoctor4637]

11:34 video is Starships booster recover, not Falcon 9. I figure you know that, but wanted to clear the air just in case.

[@JoshWright396]

This was a fun video (the pacing felt like a 15 minute long Short- it was very engaging the whole way through). I'd definitely enjoy this style of video in the mix for your channel!

[@marcm.]

13:57 Yes. More of these. Veritasium watch your heels you got competition... And yes I know he was your mentor😂

[@sethicus]

This is so different from the videos I've gotten used to seeing on your channel, and I love it!

[@GermainDemuynck]

You are a gifted "teacher"! You manage to explain all the science in a fun and easy to grasp way. As for topics: go for what passionates you. Any topic brought in your vibrant manner will be well worth watching!

[@gilapolonio]

Awesome! Xyla, you rock! Keep doing this.

[@KenZeri]

Well Done, Xyla! Your lesson content and teaching construct/ tactics were effectively combined to provide an accessible lesson for those with a basic understanding as well as specific enough information (mathematical formulae) to validate the factual data. Combined with the fun graphics, the "Boomy" awards and your boundless passion and energy, this production was a home run!

[@setSCEtoAUX]

Man, the illustrations and animations in this video are really pro. Like, you didn't *need* to have the people on the magic carpet hold their ears when they flew by the rocket, but you did. The whole video production quality is tops. The "goofs" in the green screen red carpet gag are an exception, but in the context of the whole video they're actually more ironic than goofs.

[@SkyhawkSteve]

Just wanted to thank you for the presentation at the Builders Stage in Normal, IL on Wednesday! You and the boys did a great job of sharing your "why I'm an engineer" stories. I'm a retired engineer, but the talk sounded a lot like some chats I've had with friends. Thanks for helping inspire the next generation of engineers!

[@mikeoitzman8275]

I grew up in the 70's in the high desert near Edwards air force base. Sonic booms were common everyday from the flights out of Edwards. I remember hearing them during class. Now a days, there's a whole generation who's never experienced a sonic boom.

[@Darthvictor349]

73 y.o. Retired Pharmacist here. I love your explanation on this complex subject . A thought popped into my head that with your great body of practical science knowledge and the variety of your projects to date, you could put together a great college course. You are a great instructor. 👍

[@visvivalaw]

I lived in Camarillo, CA in the 80s. Even from there I could hear the Space Shuttle when it returned (to land at Edwards). It shook my windows. Also a sonic boom is usually a double boom-boom as the two shockwave fronts pass over you.

[@mbessey]

I live down the coast a bit from Vandenberg, and it's interesting how much the perceived loudness varies of sonic booms from various Space-X launches. The exact trajectory they're launched on matters a lot.

[@TheNewJankyWorkshop]

Loved the new format! Definitely would watch another one there smarty pants! ;)

[@JamesPancoast]

"How's your back?" IT'S FINE YOUNG LADY!! ;) I am a little disappointed that we can't get a sonic boom off our HPR rockets. I wonder if we had a microphone on a drone around the altitude where it goes supersonic if we could pick it up?

[@seraphina985]

Recording it from an aircraft in the path of the shockwave like that should work although the aviation regulator will probably not be impressed with you flying drones or other aircraft within airspace that will have been placed under a Temporary Flight Restriction to prevent potential collisions especially in the event the rocket goes out of control.

[@matthewl.5059]

Great Job Xyla, never stop teaching. Every moment in front of people you are teaching, even with a smile.

[@rice0009]

Thank you for explaining why we can't hear the boom of your rockets!

[@dustinthewind8209]

So that's the reason why you can't hear a bullet flying away but can hear it crack when it goes over your head (if its a super sonic round). Dope.

[@wild_lee_coyote]

Unless it ricochet and goes off at an angle where you can hear the shockwave with sufficient energy to still be super sonic.

[@BradSmithSC]

Seems a model rocket travelling horizontally, instead of vertically, an audience within the boom carpet would experience a boomy 💥. Sounds like a video opty.

[@LuMaxQFPV]

​@@BradSmithSCYep! See my comment on this regarding Vandenberg Falcon 9 launches. Yes, we can hear the ascent transonic boom.

[@ElukeNL]

@@BradSmithSC can the audience be in the boom carpet but still far enough out of the possible path of the rocket? Where would a rocket launched horizontally land and how? I presume Xyla wants the rocket and audience reusable…

[@BradSmithSC]

​@@ElukeNLXyla could pull this off with a 'reusable audience' being a primary priority 😂

[@tetedur377]

When I worked for the Navy out at the Pacific Missile Test Range at Pt. Mugu and China Lake, we flew aerial targets, which were basically missile emulators, as well as full-scale aerial targets (FSAT) - manned and unmanned both. During my time, they were transitioning from the QF-4 in to F-16s and other aircraft. We flew them as drones (subsonic), and as aerial targets - both supersonic and transsonic. Sometimes it was just race-track them until they fell into the ocean, then (in theory), the Navy helicopter squadron that was flying the thing would go out and recover it. I say in theory, because good luck with that if it happened on a Friday afternoon, particularly before a holiday weekend. When we flew them off Hawaii, we'd occasionally get Japanese fishermen drag one back to us, for which I hear they were paid rather well. I think they quit flying them in Hawaii when a transsonic, hypergolic-fueled target that had gotten "lost" for several decades had the separator between the fuel tanks give way and it went high order. It took one man's life, and badly disfigured another - the guy who I talked to about it - and I'm pretty sure the state of Hawaii said "No more of that sh*t, haoles." Anyway, I'm not clear what they did with the so-called "transsonic" targets, other than testing them at those configurations to find out how they acted within those just under supersonic speeds. Some kind of threat emulation, I'm sure.

[@alekrolle7063]

Those poor wildlife! That was a good laugh.😂

[@alanmccomas6897]

You would be everybody’s favorite teacher. The content is well organized, presented clearly, and in a manner to keep people engaged. Love this video! Love your channel!

[@michaelsalyer8155]

You obviously need a weather balloon* launched right before your rocket launch to capture the sonic boom. *crown optional

[@Emu0181]

Was going to suggest a balloon as well, but a tethered one as it could be held at a steady altitude and distance, and easier to retrieve afterwards

[@MarkEichin]

I assume 250M is too high for conventional drones? (hanging an audio recorder below a quad would maybe reduce the prop noise enough...)

[@telioty]

I was thinking a veritasium helicopter video collab, but weather balloon tied to the ground sounds safer

[@Jasper_Seven]

nice. so many good things in this video... like a reminder of the awesome rocket, the follow up about the sonic boom question, with all the relatable explanation, including the visual effects reason, and the always cute hostess showing off three cute outfits... thanks!

[@MaxFagin]

Very well explained and especially well animated and visualized. The ability to do something and the ability to explain it simply without compromising on accuracy are not the same skill, but no surprise they are both skills you have!

[@kleinesren7064]

damn you put that way better than me. Exactly this!

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

I knew from the title I was getting ready for an eye opener. Explained exactly as perfect as your builds go. Fantastic!! Go fly your plane, please. You look ABSOLUTELY TOP GUN flying in it. I miss your plane more than anything. It's so RAD!!

[@Jeremy-fl2xt]

You're a good presenter and the content is good either way. Builds that reference big concepts, but gloss over the details are fine by me, but going deeper like this is also good.

[@MorningThief_]

THIS. IS. FANTASTIC. focusing on one particular scientific aspect from a previous video is a great pairing. PLEASE MORE!

[@CaseyDoranWritesCode]

spite is my primary motivator

[@MikeDodds]

Spite and caffeine…. 😂

[@DUKE_of_RAMBLE]

Whereas Spite's primary motivator was a solid rocket motor ☺️ _[I'll see myself out...]_

[@dbulfer]

Great job explaining the sonic boom effect. The illustrations were especially good! One more thing to add is that a detonation is from a combustion reaction that propagates faster than the speed of sound.

[@evilkep7390]

This video reminded me of physics girl

[@nicknevco215]

I think I understood better here Can't hear or see rocket sonic booms

[@leviichabod]

Oh, whatever happened to her?

[@unmountablebootvolume]

​@leviichabod Sadly, she's still extremely sick. I think slightly better, but still really bad.

[@zapfanzapfan]

Yeah, I miss her. Hopefully she recovers soon.

[@phokxx566]

I love this format... seeing the technical/science side of more of your projects would be great!

[@lukasvogl4575]

In a rocket launch, you do actualy hear sonic booms. They are not from the rocket body it self but from shock waves insdie the exhaust gases of the rocket motors. It is this caracteristic crackling sound you can hear from big rockets.

[@altair7001]

Right! In fact, they come from the LATERAL expansion of gases under the rocket.

[@seraphina985]

@@altair7001 In that regard they are more similar to the sonic booms from lightning where it the the rapid lateral expansions of the superheated plasma generated by the strike. Different mechanism but in both cases you have material heated to such extremes of heat and pressure that they expand laterally way faster than the speed of sound in the much colder lower pressure air around them.

[@chuckrogers01]

I'm also a huge science nerd! I absolutely adore videos like this. You're incredible. Please continue with your work, and I'll be here watching.

[@joekelly7505]

I got to see the launch of Voyager 2 in Florida, 1977. I don’t remember a sonic boom but I remember the crackling sound from the Titan engines which I’ve been told are a series of mini sonic booms from the exhaust stream as it goes supersonic. I’ve also been up close to an F16 with its afterburners lit up. It was really pretty - pink and purple flames with shock diamonds caused by the supersonic exhaust. More than loud - you could feel the rumble through your skull and chest cavity. (Also, no back ache… core strength exercises and yoga and plenty of fiber)

[@reddragonflyxx657]

Apparently it's not that hard to get supersonic jets with compressed air (including canned "air"), the requisite pressure is something like 6 atmospheres (IIRC, with assumptions I don't recall)

[@jesperwall839]

This is a video that should never been needed if people just had paid attention in school. But I’m glad anyway it was made, because it was fun as hell 😂

[@Jason_Bryant]

My thoughts when I saw the title of this video: 1) Not all sonic booms are equally loud. A tiny whip tip is not going to generate as much force as a jet, so its boom has less volume. 2) That rocket is super aerodynamic. Much thinner and sleeker than a jet, no wings, and tiny fins instead of tail wings. That's much less drag, so it'll have a smaller boom. 3) Rockets are loud, and we stand far away from them for safety. So with a smaller boom, all the rocket noise, and our distance away from them, I really wouldn't expect a sonic boom to be very noticeable.

[@jonathanguthrie9368]

Except a sonic boom doesn't come from drag. Instead, drag comes from sonic booms.

[@ericnfriedman]

Liked it! I'm a physics teacher and the timing of this video was perfect--I'm literally talking about sonic booms today in class! Also I've got a crew of super nerdy rocket kids at my school who I will turn on to your channel. Keep it up Xyla!

[@josephbrown8905]

Another common place for sonic booms in everyday life is inside certain turbochargers and superchargers. Between the conditions inside the compressor section and the speed of the compressor itself, the blade tips may exceed the speed of sound and create sonic booms. Depending upon the number of blades and the rotational speed at which it takes place, that can be anything from a rattling sound to a tone.

[@the_cheese]

That was about as concise explanation of the Prandtl-Glauert effect as I have ever heard; awesome video, Xyla!!

[@xtieburn]

'light can be made to move slower through certain materials' Ooooo, thats a veeeeerrry deep rabbit hole.

[@jakobrosenqvist4691]

A nice little side tangent consisting of several reserch careers worth of information.

[@ADBBuild]

Light travels slower than it's max speed because its max speed is in a vacuum. Literally every other time it's traveling slower.

[@jakobrosenqvist4691]

@@ADBBuild light or more accurately massless particles always travels at it's max speed, it can't go slower or faster. When traveling through a medium it's not actually slowing down the massless particles, it's the waveform interacting with the material creating a combined waveform that isn't entirely massless anymore, and thus travels slower. So travelling trough a medium actually changed the light so something else during transit.

[@cahdoge]

@@jakobrosenqvist4691 How can the mere interaction of the light with the medium increas the resting mass of light? On a microscopic level it's still photons bouncing between atoms in a vacuum.

[@jakobrosenqvist4691]

@@cahdoge it's not really bouncing around, that is an inaccurate model. If it was true then all mediums would scatter photons randomly. And the interaction doesn't give the photon mass in the conventional sense, it combines with the photons waveform to temporarily create a combined waveform that has a tiny bit of mass. Another way of thinking about it is electron waveforms causing drag on the photons waveform when passing through a medium.

[@calebdoner]

Teacher Xyla is awesome. This is every bit as interesting as your build videos.

[@ekij133]

6:40 dB not DB! capitalisation matters!

[@DavidMFChapman]

also m/s not M/S

[@Em4gdn1m]

decabels!

[@ekij133]

@@Em4gdn1m deca has the prefix 'da' not 'D'

[@CipoCat6]

I was already thinking I wish I had you as a neighbor, but this was a big reminder why: I love making stuff, but part of that is because I love learning new stuff. Thanks for sharing the stuff I wish I had time for but have to settle for watching!

[@Forshledian]

2:26 - I dont actually lol often, but that one got me good.

[@PDivision1]

Now exactly wildlife though 😂

[@u9Nails]

I kept shouting, "Helicopters" in the Boomy awards! I feel slightly unrecognized! Also, 'sup Sunkist Surfer Dude! Looking classic!

[@jonathan_60503]

Most common sonic boom boomies - now I'm wondering if, since the start of the 20th century, more sonic booms have been created by bullets than by thunder. (Though the average person is still far more likely to hear thunder on a routine basis - which is one definition of common)

[@NewtoRah]

Based on some random googling, there's around 1.2B lightning strikes a year, and at least a few years ago, at least 12B rounds of ammo made a year. Not every round will be fired, and some percentage would be subsonic, and it's probably ramped up a lot the last few years. Based on wild speculation, I'd guess the number of supersonic gunshots probably exceeded thunder during WWI and then again in WWII, and then stayed that way from that point on, with the changes in manufacturing, weapons, culture, and the way conflicts are fought

[@seraphina985]

@@NewtoRah I guess a lot of this depends on definitions, are we talking about most common overall or the current frequency, if the former the fact lightning has been doing that for billions of years probably still wins. Similarly are we talking about only on Earth? Because lightning is not a uniquely terrestrial phenomena, in our solar system alone they have also been observed on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune so if we are talking about all lightning yeah the universe probably produces way more that way. Defining the question is really important to determining what numbers we are even attempting to compare here.

[@HK_roller_delayed]

Just when I thought this channel couldn't get any better! I am so here for this!

[@FPVREVIEWS]

If you want to hear the sonic boom from Spite, you could launch it from an aircraft downwards. Or put a recording device on an aircraft orbiting your launch area.

[@jakobrosenqvist4691]

What is the difference between a rocket and a missile?

[@TimCortesi]

Or launch it horizontally and stand somewhere downrange.

[@TimCortesi]

@@jakobrosenqvist4691 Wernher von Braun once said of the V2 rocket (the worlds first rocket powered guided ballistic missile) that "The rocket worked perfectly except for landing on the wrong planet." So it could be argued that a missile is just a rocket that lands on the wrong planet, and happens to carry an explosive (non-scientific) payload.

[@stevegredell1123]

Yes FAA this guy right here

[@VianneyOuiBon]

That dress is crackling. But no award for the mantis shrimp? Always happy to see equations outside of their usual channels!

[@donger007]

How's your back feeling....I felt that. Literally.....in my back.

[@gcKukie]

so... if we attached a mic to a balloon with 400m of string tied to the ground we could record it?

[@m88k]

The obvious solution is to put a recorder on a sounding rocket you launch before your rocket. Thank you, I'm here all week.

[@Larsosborne]

3:50 lives rent-free in my head

[@experimentalcyborg]

also cavitation in water, like when a ship's propeller/screw moves too fast and gets all pitted and... screwed up 😄🚢

[@whocares2277]

That's not supersonic.

[@experimentalcyborg]

@@whocares2277 true i guess it's technically what happens below the shockwave rather than in front of it

[@lennartb]

Fantastic video! Love seeing the new format, more of this, or maybe some parts like this in normal build videos, are very much welcome!

[@shepalderson]

Excellent explainer video. I definitely like this format, and hope to see more.

[@mikerycroft]

Seconded

[@NigelThorne]

I love the way you present information. Yes, your content is great and well thought out, but also your enthusiasm and humour is infectious. Great work. Keep it coming.

[@Prosege_Lumpascoodle]

I think meteors entering the atmosphere should have gotten a Boomie 💁‍♀

[@ashkebora7262]

Although those that cause damage _explode_ due to rapid heating and kinetic impact, not so much the sonic boom.

[@LucasBenevenuto.M]

It will be amazing if you actually continue making explanation-centered videos like this, Xyla! Aside from building and testing, this sort of content is also extremely interesting and helps illustrate the principles behind your builds. I personally really appreciated the science talk, and will be extremely glad if you make more content like this!

[@highvis_supply]

wow that jumpsuit looks really good

[@ThatOneRoadie]

A fun demo of the boom carpet on the vertical plane might be to put up a balloon near FAR; if Spite breaks the sound barrier at about 250m, a balloon with a (standalone, not bluetooth) microphone on a 1000ft/~300m tether would probably be able to capture it.

[@SuperLuminalMan]

I do all things through spite, which strengthens me.

[@ianlarue8937]

The universe of awesome science communicators on KZbin is lucky to have you Xyla. Keep it up!

[@norbert.kiszka]

You missed one important thing. Speed of sound depends not only by the medium, but also other factors. In atmospheric air it depends mostly by the temperature. With higher altitude, temperature drops. About 2K per every 1000 ft. So in higher altitude, we have slower speed of sound. That's why airline pilots uses Mach number instead of knots at some point of climb - to not exceed speed of sound on top of the wing, where air moves faster than other places around aircraft.

[@rustythecrown9317]

yes. was wondering if somebody would mention it. Especially noticeable if it's a really hog , muggy day .

[@Pottery4Life]

...and continuing underwater, the speed increases with depth. (pressure)

[@fewwiggle]

"mostly by the temperature" Isn't it mostly the difference in pressure at different altitudes that effects the speed of sound at those altitudes?

[@bandwevil]

@@fewwiggle No, temperature has a much larger effect. The speed of sound even increases as you go up the stratosphere since the temp goes up.

[@NootchMurphy]

THIS WAS AWESOME!! Topics to discuss are ones that make you as happy and joyful to talk about as this one. The message is always received better when the presented is impassioned.

[@SmellyT0fu]

How's your back doing??! OH SNAP!! LOL!

[@nicknevco215]

Ooff

[@naturewithniall]

You’re a great communicator and bring your practical experience to your explanations which is something a lot of science communicators don’t do. Keep it up🙌

[@u8ntcn031]

GREAT EXPLANATION! ... ... ... although, slightly over-simplified ... ... ... as a pilot, you know air density is not constant, therefore, the speed of sound through air is not constant either.

[@ichbrauchmehrkaffee5785]

as an engineering student, it's not air density, but air temperature that affects the speed of sound.

[@azy6868]

​@@ichbrauchmehrkaffee5785 Maybe we should ask him, "as a pilot"; What are his thoughts about the speed of sound in a vacuum? And to really challenge him; Can an object travel the speed of sound in a vacuum?

[@toweri_li]

@@azy6868 In (complete) vacuum there can be no sound. Thus "speed of sound" in vacuum is undefined. You can never say that in a vacuum an object travels at higher or lower speed than the speed of sound.

[@u8ntcn031]

One minute into the video, Xyla explains the speed of sound through three different mediums: air, water, and steel. The difference in speed has absolutely nothing to do with the temperature of these three mediums, it does have everything to do with the density of the mediums. Air temperature changes can change it's density, but its is the density that determines the speed of sound through it.

[@faroncobb6040]

@@u8ntcn031 The different speeds in air, water, and steel, are not caused by the density, but rather the strength of the interactions between the atoms of the material. For example, the speed of sound in lithium metal is about four times faster than the speed of sound in water, despite having only about half the density. Raising the temperature of a material will increase the speed of sound, but only so long as it doesn't change the state. All else being equal, increased density actually reduces the speed of sound.

[@MrEFreestone]

This was super fun! Really loved the vibe/style of the video. And my back feels terrible, thanks for asking.

[@RodrigoMadriz]

Epic epic epic... Keep it up!

[@AllMappedOut86]

Xyla teaching or Xyla building, we love them all, but this was a brilliant video and well worth the extra effort it took you to make!

[@DanielCook-h6r]

So if you do hear a sonic boom from the rocket it's because the rocket is heading more or less towards you and is more or less horizontal. This is a bad thing because it means it was launched AT you, and it probably means you're under attack.

[@Sanyaenyenwa]

Well, in that case you probably won't be hearing the sonic boom either, because the rocket will hit you before the boom arrives.

[@chrissugg968]

If you hear a sonic boom from a rocket taking off, you will not go to space today.

[@jamesmif]

​@Sanyaenyenwa I think the boom might arrive concurrently with the rocket in that case

[@ashkebora7262]

@jamesmif Nahh, unless it's a sub-sonic cruise missile, which are old these days, that missile will be going FAR faster than the speed of sound. The shockwave from its detonation will hit you first, if the missile itself doesn't claim the prize. The latest and greatest missiles go faster than mach 5. If it's an ICBM coming in, they can reach over mach 10 on final approach.

[@jamesmif]

@@ashkebora7262 I wasn't talking about the 'sonic boom', I was talking about the explosion that tends to happen when a rocket reaches its target. 😀

[@LeeEnfield308]

Yes, more like this please. As much as I really enjoy the actual building of your projects, it would be really cool if you could explain the science as you go as well, or maybe at the end of the video, I know this would make your videos longer, but I always think you can't have to much of a good thing 🙂🙂

[@Paragon643]

11:34 "spacex falcon 9 launch" while showing the catch of super heavy aka starship lol

[@Cee64E]

You're really good at revealing science. You should do it more often. I love your making videos, and I think this would be a great format for in-between builds.

[@prjndigo]

Some fun tidbits. You will always hear a sonic boom around rockets its just the rockets have to be really big for the frequency to be low enough for you to hear because the only one that is aimed downward is from the engine and it is FAR louder than the airflow shockwave source. That said there _is_ a 'collapse clap' if the engine turns off quickly enough as well. An Atlas or Shuttle launch required people to be far away because it was entirely supersonic and hypersonic shockwaves propagating from the engine exhaust flares. When Pinatubo erupted VEI6 in the early 1990s it did so 'silently' because the ejected material came out above the speed of sound and traveling almost entirely upwards. It made noises but one would expect an 'Earth shattering kaboom' from something in the low nuclear force range but because it was substantially made up of super-hot gasses and highly ablative low density ash it absorbed its own shockwave within its outer layers. Rocket motor exhaust will do this as well and generally you're actually behind all that when the rocket breaks the sound barrier. The entire dynamic of creating a rocket is to ensure that for most of its flight envelope it is never touched by the closure of the traveling shockwave more than that one time when it forms as it is accelerating from the pad, so the shockwave is literally closing _into_ the engine exhaust. In atmospheric hobbyist flights it does also collapse back forward after the engine has died as well. If you're someplace downrange from an air defense battery's launch site you _will_ hear the sonic cracks of the launched interceptors. Hope that all adds to your presentation! Anecdotally I was at scout camp when they strapped a well balanced brick to an M but wouldn't let us stand anywhere near it and we DID hear a series of 'pops' as the aerodynamics struggled against the thrust at mach 1. (mid 1980s)

[@yaskynemma9220]

I absolutely loved this science communication side and it would be cool to see more. You explain things very well and it was enjoyable watching the animations and examples, also your humor is a great added plus to this

[@bryanbsa8927]

2:11 Wrong! You know better than that generic statement. It's variable and depends on things like how humid it is, altitude, and even temperature.

[@jzerious4523]

True, but for all intents and purposes, it doesn't really matter that much

[@bryanbsa8927]

@@jzerious4523 Really depends on what your doing. Flying model rocket, I agree with you, Flying a fighter jet or real rockets, You're off the team. Speed of sound at sea level 761 MPH at 30,000 feet. 670 MPH. It is very important to anyone with a need to get it right in their calculation vs. average joe. I don't consider Xyla to be an average Joe which is why I spoke up. She is a teacher to many.

[@kerbalengineeringsystems7415]

This is my new favorite Xyla video tbh, because it's about rockets in a way that doesn't just make me think "man, I wish I was at FAR."

[@notsiblers913]

Joining in with everyone else to say this was really well done and a great watch. It was only when you mentioned at the end that it wasn't your usual style of video that I realised you'd never done one like this, because it still felt like a video of yours and didn't come across as something you've never done before because it was so well done.

[@timfarmer5535]

I love adding the details this video had. Great explanation and adds to the whole context of your build. 🎉