Speed of sound without an aircraft...or rocket

[Jpec07]

Just a physics note: the thinner the air, the easier it is for a constant force (like gravity) to propel something to the speed of sound in the same medium (less air means sound moves slower, and there's also less air-resistance so the thing can go faster - slower on one end and faster on one end make it easier to do).

 

[opendriver]

Just a physics note: the thinner the air, the easier it is for a constant force (like gravity) to propel something to the speed of sound in the same medium (less air means sound moves slower, and there's also less air-resistance so the thing can go faster - slower on one end and faster on one end make it easier to do).

100% right!

 

[Delirious]

So what would have happened if he opened the chute right at when he began to fall?

Also, I forgot...how high was he in altitude?

 

[Famine]

22 miles.

 

[Danoff]

So what would have happened if he opened the chute right at when he began to fall?

It might not have had sufficient air resistance to open. Then, depending on how quickly the atmospheric density changes it might have ripped as he entered a thicker portion. The last problem is that he would have taken forever to get to the ground and might have drifted over an ocean.

 

[Niels]

F-14 at Mach 1+

And that guy was falling faster than the plane in that vid👍 Incredible!!

 

[Azuremen]

Just to point out, its 970 KM/h, not MPH. Thats more like 600 MPH.

BTW, speed of sound is 1200 km/at sea level, and would be less as the density of the decresed. I think they may have some facts wrong. He may have gone the speed of sound, but I don't think he broke the sound barrier, due to the pressure differences and the likes.

Still, damn impressive none the less.

In regard to the burning up in the atmosphere... since he is not traveling at the speeds of a meteor, and because air would gradually become more dense, he would gradually slow down. Its not like you suddenly slam into dense air when doing a fall like that.

EDIT: Just realized I noobed myself there in the physics department... See Jspec's post.