Posted on 01/29/2008 7:52:57 PM PST by BGHater
of course there’s no sound in space.
I assume the writer is trying to use a comparison re: speed and he’s off the mark a little bit.
the solar wind propels the particles at approx 240 miles per second.
the speed of sound @ 100 miles out from earth is approx 280 miles per second.
Actually, the term “speed of sound” is correct. The term “sound” refers to a pressure wave (shock wave) in a fluid medium. The interplanetary medium (i.e. the space between the planets, the sun, and other bodies in the Solar System) is a fluid medium — albeit one with an extremely low density (about 10 atoms per cubic centimeter). Shock waves created by solar storms, etc. travel through this medium at a velocity of about 300 km/sec.; thus, the speed of sound within the Solar System is about 300 km/sec. Anything traveling through the Solar System in excess of this velocity is, therefore, moving at supersonic speed.
my figures are whacked.
solar wind particles travel at approx. 400 km per second.
mach-1 is approx 760 mph at sea level.
big difference twixt speed of sound (slower) than solar wind paricle speed.
thanks again
Uh.. Wouldn't that be considerably faster? Like, not even close?
***stream of high-energy charged particles from the sun travelling faster than the speed of sound.***
He makes it sound as if solar flares fly through space at only 1,000mph.
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