Sonic boom the ground. For example, the speed of sound at is about , but an aircraft must travel at least (Mach 1.12, where Mach 1 equals the speed of sound) for a boom to be heard on the ground. The composition of the atmosphere is also a factor. Temperature variations, humidity, atmospheric pollution, and winds can all have an effect on how a sonic boom is perceived on the ground. Even the ground itself can influence the sound of a sonic boom. Hard surfaces such as concrete, pavement, and large buildings can cause reflections which may amplify the sound of a
Anti-shock body Anti-shock body An anti-shock body (also known as Whitcomb body or Küchemann carrot) is a pod positioned on the leading edge or trailing edge of an aircraft's aerodynamic surfaces to reduce wave drag at transonic speeds (Mach 0.8–1.0). Most jet airliners have a cruising speed between Mach 0.8 and 0.85. Wave drag can be minimized, for aircraft operating in the transonic regime (Mach 0.8–1.0), by having a cross-sectional area which changes smoothly along the length of the aircraft. This is known as the area rule, and is the operating principle behind the design of anti-shock bodies. Reducing wave drag improves