Science glossary film: Supersonic

Travelling faster than the speed of sound in a given medium. The speed of sound in air at sea level is about 1236 kilometres per hour, so anything faster than that is said to be supersonic. Aircraft that are capable of flying at supersonic speed are less efficient, more complex and difficult to operate than subsonic planes, so they tend to be used only in military applications.

The speed of sound in air at sea level is about 1236 kilometres per hour, so anything faster than that is said to be supersonic. Aircraft that are capable of flying at supersonic speed are less efficient, more complex and difficult to operate than subsonic planes, so they tend to be used only in military applications.