Final answer:
Joe Kittinger's record-breaking skydive in 1960 reached speeds close to but not surpassing the speed of sound, making the statement True. The speed of sound can vary with altitude, and surpassing it can lead to a phenomenon known as a sonic boom.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Captain Kittenger came close to the speed of sound during his record-breaking skydive' is likely referring to Joe Kittinger's high-altitude jump from a helium balloon in 1960, where he reached speeds of up to 614 mph (988 km/h), which is close to the speed of sound but not surpassing it, making the statement True. However, he did not reach the speed of sound, which is approximately 767 mph (1236 km/h) at sea level. It is important to note that the speed of sound varies with altitude due to differences in air pressure and temperature.
When discussing what happens when a source approaches the speed of sound, it's interesting to mention Mach numbers. The Mach number defines the ratio of the speed of an object to the speed of sound. As an object approaches the speed of sound, pressure waves build up in front of it creating what is known as a sonic boom when the object passes through the sound barrier. This was once thought to potentially destroy aircraft, but modern engineering has shown that aircraft can indeed surpass the speed of sound safely, as evidenced by aircraft like the SR-71 Blackbird.