(Modeling) Mach Number An airplane flying faster than the speed of sound sends out sound waves that form a cone, as shown in the figure. The cone intersects the ground to form a hyperbola. As this hyperbola passes over a particular point on the ground, a sonic boom is heard at that point. If θ is the
where m is the Mach number for the speed of the plane. (We assume m> 1.) The Mach number is the ratio of the speed of the plane to the speed of sound. Thus, a speed of Mach 1.4 means that the plane is flying at 1.4 times the speed of sound.
In each of the following exercises, θ or m is given. Find the other value (θ to the nearest degree and m to the nearest tenth as applicable).
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