He's got ballllls of steel.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

The speed of sound is temperature, not density dependent.

Density changes with temperature for a gas.

Speed of sound IS definitely dependent on the medium it is traveling through. The speed of sound under water is something like 4x faster than it is through air. Probably not due to density though, more like some other physical property (think about why sound deadening material, which is pretty heavy, deadens sound).

Regardless, the air temp at 100,000+ feet has got to be pretty damn cold.

I wouldn't really worry about him "burning up". He won't be going anywhere near fast enough, nor will he have the required mass to keep up that speed into a point of the atmosphere that is dense enough to generate that heat.

Planes travel at what, 550 mph? Only a hundred and change mph under what he will be traveling at, and their windows/wings ice up... at lower (denser) altitudes.

And I just wanted to say that the first guy that did it (Joe) way back in 1960 had way way way bigger balls than this guy does.

[RCA]

Red Coupe the way you explained terminal velocity makes it seem like it means it could stop you all toether from falling. Sure it could be able to slow you down but your def makes it seem like it could equal your falling energy and stops you completely. Maybe I am understanding it incorrectly.

Also TV isn't just based on air temp/density, is it? Something tells me the shape of the falling object would have a lot to do with it.

[Dattebayo]

Red Coupe the way you explained terminal velocity makes it seem like it means it could stop you all together from falling

Only if you are an idiot... (not directed at you)

[AZhitman]

He will still reach a terminal velocity, but his posture and the shape he presents to the wind will affect that. He's hoping to exceed the record, which SHOULD be easily attained given the extreme height, the attitude of attack, and his drag-reduction measures.

[diablo_cc]

So, what if when he reaches supersonic speeds his parachute(s) tear off of his back, and now he is the human bullet, rocketing at the earth, minutes away from becoming a human meteorite.

[Dattebayo]

So, what if when he reaches supersonic speeds his parachute(s) tear off of his back, and now he is the human bullet, rocketing at the earth, minutes away from becoming a human meteorite.

If all that happens, he will die. DUH!

But he will most likely have two or more chutes and a spare, because he will need to brake himself down gradually.

[Isr]

He's not the first to exceed the speed of sound this way.. Sorry

http://www.space.com/businesst....html

"On August 16, 1960, Kittinger jumped his last Excelsior jump, doing so from an air-thin height of 102,800 feet (31,334 meters). From that nearly 20 miles altitude, his tumble toward terra firma took some 4 minutes and 36 seconds. Exceeding the speed of sound during the fall, Kittinger used a small stabilizing chute before a larger, main parachute opened in the denser atmosphere. He safely touched down in barren New Mexico desert, 13 minutes 45 seconds after he vaulted into the void."

Edit: didn't notice before he did his from 120,000 ft. but still...

[Red coupe]

So, what if when he reaches supersonic speeds his parachute(s) tear off of his back, and now he is the human bullet, rocketing at the earth, minutes away from becoming a human meteorite.

Why would his chute tear off his back?

Again, at terminal velocity the wind force against you is the same regardless of speed... It is equal to your weight. That is what terminal velocity is, that is how terminal velocity works. There will be no more force on the chute then any other dive at terminal velocity.

That aside, he isn't going to pull his chute at mach one. He will steadily slow down as he falls and air density increases.

[Dattebayo]

He's not the first to exceed the speed of sound this way.. Sorry

Uh, no sh*t dummy. Maybe you should watch the video all the way and pay attention this time!

[Isr]

Wow, anger management issues?Alright maybe I didn't watch the whole video.. but I don't think that kind of response was very mature. I was only trying to provide some information that I thought was related to this thread.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Density changes with temperature for a gas.

Yes, but the change in pressure cancels the change in density out.

In air, the speed of sound is temperature dependent, as counter-intuitive as that sounds. Why, I don't know. All I know is like I said, we only care about temperature at an altitude, not density or pressures when calculating Mach #s.

[Dattebayo]

Wow, anger management issues?Alright maybe I didn't watch the whole video.. but I don't think that kind of response was very mature. I was only trying to provide some information that I thought was related to this thread.

No. The whole point of this venture is to beat Kittenger's record. Hell, the first part of the video it shows him MEETING Kittenger for christ's sake! Your post just makes you look dumb.

[Isr]

Dude, WTH is your problem w/ people.. Every post I've ever seen you post has been negative in some way... Lighten up a bit

[Dattebayo]

Dude, WTH is your problem w/ people..

Standard idiocy policy. You type something stupid or is a flagrant lie, I get on your case about it. Isn't this the way internet works? Get a backbone and start reading before you post...

[IanS]

How am I not surprised that it is sponsored by RedBull.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Red Coupe the way you explained terminal velocity makes it seem like it means it could stop you all toether from falling. Sure it could be able to slow you down but your def makes it seem like it could equal your falling energy and stops you completely. Maybe I am understanding it incorrectly.

Also TV isn't just based on air temp/density, is it? Something tells me the shape of the falling object would have a lot to do with it.

The way he explained it is entirely correct. Weight is a force, its mass times gravity (mass being slugs or whatever the english unit of mass is).

F=ma

If the force of your weight equals the force of the wind pushing back on you, your resultant acceleration is 0. You don't stop "moving", you stop accelerating. That is what terminal velocity is... the point at which you stop accelerating, which is also the highest velocity you can attend in whatever medium you are travelling through without axillary propulsion.

The force of the wind at any given velocity is directly related to the object's drag coefficient. So yeah, a teardrop has a lower drag coefficient than a feather, or a brick.

In a vacuum however, the shape doesn't matter at all. Enter Galileo.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yes, but the change in pressure cancels the change in density out.

In air, the speed of sound is temperature dependent, as counter-intuitive as that sounds. Why, I don't know. All I know is like I said, we only care about temperature at an altitude, not density or pressures when calculating Mach #s.

Being as you are doing it for military purposes, I'm sure the equation is as simplified as possible, so in the event you need to do it on the fly in a hurry, you can.

Density of air at altitude is probably pretty consistent (meaning at 30,000 feet, it is more or less always the same). I'm surprised there is nothing in there about humidity though... although maybe humidity is relatively constant at those altitudes as well. Sound definitely travels differently in the fog...

Can you post the equation you use to calculate mach?

[MinisterofDOOM]

Terminal Velocity is also a great but little-known DOS-era 6DOF shooter:

http://www.3drealms.com/tv/

[Red coupe]

Standard idiocy policy. You type something stupid or is a flagrant lie, I get on your case about it. Isn't this the way internet works? Get a backbone and start reading before you post...

Hey! Speaking of backbones remember all the times you have cried about me being mean!

[infinitgkid]

Hey! Speaking of backbones remember all the times you have cried about me being mean!

You are mean... and I think it's cool...

[Dattebayo]

Hey! Speaking of backbones remember all the times you have cried about me being mean!

You are mean sometimes without provocation. I just have a standard idiocy policy.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Terminal Velocity is also a great but little-known DOS-era 6DOF shooter:

http://www.3drealms.com/tv/

I went to a lan party once and everyone apparently loved that game and instead of counterstrike or wc3 we ended up playing that s*** for 8...hours...straight.

And oh SH*T My Dad bought me this game when I was 8...http://www.3drealms.com/towers/index.htmlAmazing puzzle game where you had to drink and eat to stay alive.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Being as you are doing it for military purposes, I'm sure the equation is as simplified as possible, so in the event you need to do it on the fly in a hurry, you can.

Density of air at altitude is probably pretty consistent (meaning at 30,000 feet, it is more or less always the same). I'm surprised there is nothing in there about humidity though... although maybe humidity is relatively constant at those altitudes as well. Sound definitely travels differently in the fog...

Can you post the equation you use to calculate mach?

I don't know the equation our flight planning software uses. It certainly only cares about temperatures, though.

Manually, we use a modified E6-B flight computer to do Mach #s on the fly. I put the arrow on the temperature, find the Mach on the inside ring (we fly .72 normally), and out pops our airspeed on the outer rings. It's a nice piece of kit, basically a circular siderule. It's pretty accurate.

Wiki (for what it's worth) sort of agrees with me...I think. I'm well over my head with those equations!

[Isr]

You are mean sometimes without provocation. I just have a standard idiocy policy.

Cry some more please, it just shows your maturity level. And do you always have to resort to name calling to try to get your point across? Just let it go dude

[Dattebayo]

Cry some more please

What crying do you speak of? I assure no such thing has occurred here. You imagine things.

it just shows your maturity level.

Right. My maturity level is in question, right? Pardon me, mr saint of the ages, for pointing out your shortcomings when you attempted to be so damn clever and patronizing. Maybe if you slow down a bit and pay attention to whats going on around you this wouldn't have happened.

And do you always have to resort to name calling to try to get your point across? Just let it go dude

I never called anyone a name. And hey, I don't really care anymore. It seems that you have a problem with letting it go; attacking me with my "maturity level", now... I hope you enjoy that superior feeling you get from being so damn "mature". Now move along already.

[AZhitman]

Cry some more please, it just shows your maturity level. And do you always have to resort to name calling to try to get your point across? Just let it go dude

I believe the part of the discussion you quoted was actually an exchange between Datte and Red Coupe.... BOTH of whom happen to be mean on occasion, and a$$holes quite often, but they're also right most of the time...

Given this, they're protected under the "Jackasses Who Are Usually Right clause", which I wrote several years ago to keep myself from getting banned.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

the "Jackasses Who Are Usually Right clause"

Ah yes, kept me from getting banned many a time. Failed for me once though

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I don't know the equation our flight planning software uses. It certainly only cares about temperatures, though.

Manually, we use a modified E6-B flight computer to do Mach #s on the fly. I put the arrow on the temperature, find the Mach on the inside ring (we fly .72 normally), and out pops our airspeed on the outer rings. It's a nice piece of kit, basically a circular siderule. It's pretty accurate.

Wiki (for what it's worth) sort of agrees with me...I think. I'm well over my head with those equations!

You don't have to input altitude? Just temperature?

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Yup.

[snwbrdr435]

You don't have to input altitude? Just temperature?

Makes sense to me