Definition of shock wave

The term "shock wave" was first introduced by the American physicist Sir Robert J. Goddard in the early 1900s. Goddard coined the term while studying supersonic flight, which occurs when an object travels faster than the speed of sound. At supersonic speeds, a shock wave is formed as the air in front of the object is compressed and heated by its passage, creating a sound barrier that is visible as a conical wave. The wave is called a shock wave because it is a discontinuity in the flow of air, with significant changes in pressure, temperature, and density over a very short distance. The origin of shock waves is not limited to supersonic flight, however. They can also be formed in explosions, where the explosion creates a rapid expansion of gases that generates a shock wave. Shock waves can have significant physical and biological effects, such as damaging materials and structures, or causing ear damage or lung injury in humans. The study of shock waves has important applications in fields such as aerospace engineering, where the design of supersonic aircraft requires understanding the physics of shock waves, and in medical applications, where shock waves are used to treat various ailments such as kidney stones and chronic pain. In summary, the term "shock wave" refers to a discontinuity in the flow of air, formed by supersonic speeds or rapid expansions of gases, that causes significant changes in pressure, temperature, and density over a very short distance. The study of shock waves has important engineering and medical applications.