Rock the GED Science 2025 – Blast Your Way to Success!

The term "sound barrier" refers to the phenomenon known as a sonic boom, which occurs when an aircraft travels through the air at speeds faster than the speed of sound. As an aircraft approaches the speed of sound, the air around it begins to compress and form a shock wave, creating a loud noise. This can be disruptive and potentially damaging to structures on the ground. Therefore, aircraft designers must consider the impact of the "sound barrier" on their aircraft and take measures to minimize the effects, such as by designing sleek and streamlined shapes. Option A is incorrect because the sound barrier is not a physical barrier, but rather a phenomenon. Option B is incorrect because the sound barrier is not a measure of loudness, but rather a limit of speed. Option D is incorrect because a sound barrier does not actually block sound waves, but rather results in a specific sound (a sonic boom) when a certain speed is reached.