Final answer:
The source of a sonic boom does not have to be an emitter of sound, but rather an object moving faster than the speed of sound, creating a shock wave. Factors such as the object's speed are crucial for the creation of a sonic boom, not its sound emission capabilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The source of a sonic boom does not have to be an emitter of sound. A sonic boom is created by the shock waves that are produced when an object travels through the air at a speed greater than the speed of sound.
It is associated with the sudden change in air pressure and the constructive interference of sound waves that occur as a result of an object moving faster than the sound waves it creates. When discussing sonic booms, the key factor is the speed of the source rather than whether the source itself emits sound.
In response to the student's question:
- The occurrence of a sonic boom depends on the speed of the source, not on the frequency or amplitude of the source, or the distance of the observer from the source.
- When two sources of sound producing the same frequency move towards you at different speeds, the one moving faster will sound more high-pitched due to the Doppler effect.
- For a stationary observer, when the source of the sound is moving through the air, the speed of sound does not change with respect to the person.
- The observed frequency does not become infinite when the source is moving at the speed of sound; this statement is false.
- Sonic booms continue to be created as long as an object is traveling at supersonic speeds, not just at the moment it exceeds the speed of sound.
The Doppler effect relates to changes in the observed frequency of a sound due to the motion of the source or observer, while the sonic boom is a physical phenomenon that occurs when an object moves faster than sound, creating a type of bow wake.