sonic barrier

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sound was initially dismissed as a possible deterrent when research revealed fishes become acclimated to constant tones and would eventually move through a sonic barrier.

From Scientific American • Sep. 20, 2017

He is sure that many "terrors of space" will evaporate like the "sonic barrier," which once was thought to limit the speed of airplanes.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thus, although the sonic barrier is around 660 m.p.h. at the normal jet cruising altitude of 35,000 ft., commercial jets are held down to a speed of about 560 m.p.h.

From Time Magazine Archive

When the plane reaches about 80% of the speed of sound, however, the velocity of the air flowing over the upper side of the wing reaches the sonic barrier.

From Time Magazine Archive

As a natural result of this, the first serious rocket experiments in this country were labeled screwball stunts, about on a par with efforts to break through the sonic barrier.

From The Flying Saucers are Real by Keyhoe, Donald E. (Donald Edward)