Questions of the Mind

[Odin]

I heard this radio commerical the other day about an 11-year-old breaking the sound barrier riding a ice luge. This got me thinking, how long and at what angle would you need to have a track (assuming the track is straight) in order to break the sound barrier? I collected the following information:

Speed of Sound: 340.29 m/s

Luge: 820 g

Kid: 52,163.1 g

Total weight (accounting for extra weight): 52,983.3 g

Could someone help out a bit? Thanks.

[Fawriel]

I doubt strongly that that is possible. Not even falling straight down would be fast enough to break the sound barrier..

[Stijn]

the angle doesnt matter (as long as its mroe than 0) but the length of the track does.

[sproedel]

as faw stated: it is impossible. i can't even imagine, how an 11-year old kid could stand the wind caused by the speed.

[Odin]

This is hypothetical. The 11-year-old kid has weightless protection from the sound barrier.

I just want to know how long a track (at a 45 degree angle) would have to be to send something weighing 52,983.3 grams through the sound barrier.

[JelZe GoldRabbit]

as faw stated: it is impossible. i can't even imagine, how an 11-year old kid could stand the wind caused by the speed.

By hanging on really really tight? It is possible, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation has proven it :lol:

Seriously now, in theory it's possible for anything to break the sound barrier, the speed of sound is "only" roughly 1225 km/h or 766 mph. All it needs is a steady acceleration rate, and a way to counter friction and air resistance. It's very hard and almost impossible and I wouldn't advise anyone trying it.

Besides, it's a commercial, they always exaggerate things in them :lol:

- JelZe GoldRabbit =:3