What is "shock wave"

n. 1 (context physics English) A powerful compression wave produced by the movement of a body through a fluid or gas at a velocity greater than the local speed of sound. 2 Any violent disturbance.

n. a region of high pressure travelling through a gas at a high velocity; "the explosion created a shock wave" [syn: blast wave]

In physics, a shock wave (also spelled shockwave), or shock, is a type of propagating disturbance. When a wave moves faster than the local speed of sound in a fluid it is a shock wave. Like an ordinary wave, a shock wave carries energy, and can propagate through a medium; however it is characterized by an abrupt, nearly discontinuous change in pressure, temperature and density of the medium. In supersonic flows, expansion is achieved through an expansion fan also known as a Prandtl-Meyer expansion fan.

Unlike solitons (another kind of nonlinear wave), the energy of a shock wave dissipates relatively quickly with distance. Also, the accompanying expansion wave approaches and eventually merges with the shock wave, partially cancelling it out. Thus the sonic boom associated with the passage of a supersonic aircraft is the sound wave resulting from the degradation and merging of the shock wave and the expansion wave produced by the aircraft.

When a shock wave passes through matter, energy is preserved but entropy increases. This change in the matter's properties manifests itself as a decrease in the energy which can be extracted as work, and as a drag force on supersonic objects; shock waves are strongly irreversible processes.

Shock Wave is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas. Built right at the edge of the park, the Shock Wave is easily seen by passers-by on Interstate Highway 30. Its unique four-sided tube truss track system is similar to the Mind Bender roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia which was constructed at the same time.

Shock Wave is a book written by Clive Cussler. First published in 1996, it is the thirteenth book in Cussler's Dirk Pitt series. The events in the book take place between January and March 2000.

Shock Wave Super Looper roller coaster is a compact roller coaster at Brean Leisure Park in Brean, Somerset, England. The ride, which was manufactured by Italian company Pinfari, features a loop, sharp turns and near support misses.

Shock Wave is an upcoming Hong Kong action film written and directed by Herman Yau, produced by and starring Andy Lau. Set for release in mid-2017, the film is Yau and Lau's third collaboration as director and star respectively after 1991's Don't Fool Me and 1999's Fascination Amour.