Sonic booms

A sonic boom is a loud noise generated when an object, such as an airplane, travels faster than the speed of sound, which is about 767 miles per hour (1,235 kilometers per hour) at sea level. As the object moves, it creates pressure waves in the air, which build up and compress until they are released as a shock wave. This shock wave produces a characteristic loud sound, similar to an explosion. The impact of a sonic boom can be startling and is often heard on the ground when supersonic aircraft fly overhead.