Undoubtedly there are underwater supersonic vehicles present. However, they are not precisely vehicles that carry passengers.
We may come across missiles that some nations test around the world. However, there has been no news release related to supersonic passenger underwater vehicles.
There are no known underwater passenger vehicles that can travel supersonic speed. The speed at which a submarine would go is not the same as any unmanned underwater vehicle. Having this supersonic speed could lead to many accidents.
What is supersonic speed?
Supersonic means being faster than the speed of sound. Fighter jets are what comes to our mind when we hear the term supersonic. Even Space shuttles break the sound barrier as their speed crosses Mach 1 to Mach 5.
However, a commercial passenger airliner known as the Concorde was supposed to be travelling at supersonic speed.
As per the telegraph, we learn that it was retired due to the cost involved in flying the aircraft. It took its last flight in 2003.
How fast is the supersonic speed?
Faster than 768 miles per hour. They are known to us in Mach numbers. It means any vehicle or flight faster than 1 Mach is supersonic. A bullet from the gun also travels at supersonic speed, breaking the sound barrier.
Is there a supersonic road vehicle too?
Yes, the bloodhound car’s design is a supersonic speed car to cross 1000 kilometres per hour. It comes to around 621.371 miles. It also has been successfully tested at a speed of 628 mph.
In a record-breaking attempt, the Bloodhoundlsr team is targetting to cross the 800 mph barrier in 2022.
What is the actual speed of sound?
The speed of sound varies when we search for this term. The sites we go through have slightly different results claiming the speed of sound. However, what I learned through our research is the closest is 768 miles per hour.
The speed of sound could vary if we are in space and the earth’s atmosphere. The sound would travel back faster when we are closer than farther.
Sound waves travel faster in air or water.
Sound waves travel faster in water since the medium it requires to travel is dense compared to air. Hence sound waves travel faster in water than in air.
What would be the speed of sound in space as compared to underwater?
The sound wave speed is zero in space as sound needs a medium to travel or particles. However, you may have heard the sound of sun or mars etc. It is the sound heard by space exploration vehicles.
What is the speed of sound under the ocean?
The speed of sound under the ocean would differ due to the density and temperatures.
Drawbacks of a supersonic underwater vehicle
There are many of which are of limited mobility due to high speed.
Harmful to the ocean creatures ( for whales, dolphins, giant turtles, sea lions etc.). It could destroy the ocean conservation areas.
One drawback also includes detecting the vehicles due to their speed underwater. Sonar could be a huge challenge to avoid hitting any obstacles as it can’t go to that speed. It would also mean multiple issues stopping the vehicles at that speed due to the drag. Glazed Ceramic coating on the outer layer could be the option.
Can a supersonic underwater vehicle be used for international trade?
The problem is Import & export vessels that take months to go from one part of the world to another. The success of this technology means the elimination of such problems.
News regarding such information has not been published or marketed for the masses. It will create a stir if such vehicles come into existence.
However, the possibility of high risk will always be a part of such transport facilities.
I chose the best public comments on various mediums, giving the following result.
One user commented about ‘tunnelling through the earth’s crust’. (Sounds quite crazy & sarcastic but has a good sense of humour)
- ‘Planes are a better option than a supersonic submarine.’
- Adding ceramic glaze could be a thing to do on the hull
- Easily tracked by the enemy vehicles if it is a military vehicle
- A nuclear hydrofoil boat could carry more people than a submarine
- For a supersonic aeroplane pilot, getting struck by a bird is enormous. Can we imagine a whale getting hit by this supersonic underwater vehicle?
- Another comment stated to imagine the tsunami generated by the speed.
Exploring the topic of supersonic underwater vehicles unravels a few main areas of improvement. Supersonic vehicle projects require enormous amounts of funding to work on to run as well as to maintain them. We have seen three instances where financial viability issues are at the top. The second is the risk factor (risk of life). Third its usage- if masses can use it, or it could be a thing a very few could use.
