sound barrier

The sound barrier refers to the point at which an object, like an aircraft, travels faster than the speed of sound in air, approximately 343 meters per second (761 miles per hour) at sea level. When an aircraft approaches this speed, it encounters increased air resistance and a buildup of pressure waves, leading to a rapid change in sound levels often felt as a loud "boom" known as a sonic boom once the barrier is surpassed. Breaking this barrier requires specialized design to manage these aerodynamic effects and maintain stability at such high speeds.