Shock Wave Propagation

Shock wave propagation refers to the rapid, high-pressure disturbance moving through a medium, such as air or water, caused by a sudden energy release like an explosion or a supersonic object. Unlike regular sound waves, shock waves involve an abrupt change in pressure, temperature, and density, traveling faster than the speed of sound. This creates a powerful, sometimes destructive, wavefront that compresses the medium forcefully as it passes. Understanding shock waves is important in fields like aerospace, engineering, and medicine, as they influence the design of aircraft, explosions, and medical devices.