Why was it easier to break the sound barrier the first time at a high altitude?

Answer 1

Breaking the sound barrier is essentially when an object travels faster than the speed of sound. When an object moves through the air, it creates pressure waves that move outward from the object. These pressure waves merge and create a shock wave that travels with the object. When an aircraft reaches the speed of sound, the pressure waves combine so close together that the shock wave becomes very strong and creates a loud sonic boom.

At high altitudes, the air is less dense, meaning that there are fewer air molecules for the aircraft to pass through. This makes it easier for the aircraft to move through the air and reach the speed of sound with less resistance. The thinner air also makes it less likely for the aircraft to experience the negative effects of shock waves, such as turbulence or structural damage.

Furthermore, at higher altitudes, there is less of a chance of disturbing the people on the ground due to the sound of the sonic boom. This is because the sound waves can easily disperse in the thinner air and not carry as far.