Can Sonic Boom be obeserved by naked eye?

[hadeer khalid]

You may think that your looking at “sonic booms” but you’d be wrong.
In fact, it’s almost impossible to “see” a sonic boom with the naked eye.
As an aircraft gets near the speed of sound, around 767mph, a vapor cone forms around the plane.
This cone forms from a discontinuity of air pressure and temperature when the air loses it’s capacity to hold water. First a vapor like condensation will form and eventually it shapes into a cone shape.

Also, the closer a plane gets to the ground, more friction is created. This can also form a vapor cloud.
In addition higher humidity and pulling a turn creates visible clouds. This is because the pressure above the wings during the turn creates a pressure drop. In turn the moister in the air forms condensation…again, vapor cloud.

 

[OrionHunter]

Obviously you can''t see a sonic boom. You can't see sound can you? But one can see the effects of one! Like this...

Your explanation in the opener is spot on!!

 

[Taygibay]

The moment when that pressure cone breaks apart at the tail of the fighter
is the sonic boom. Not the cone but the dissipation of it.

Have a great day buddy, Tay.

 

[hadeer khalid]

Obviously you can''t see a sonic boom. You can't see sound can you? But one can see the effects of one! Like this...

View attachment 324987

Your explanation in the opener is spot on!!

Thats what i said..