Silly supersonic question

[BMWChris]

Do radio signals travel at the speed of sound?

If so how would an aircraft travelling at supersonic speed tell the airport it was on the way? It would arrive at the same time or before the radio signal.

And if you radioed as you got going and then went twice the speed of sound you would be able to overtake the message.

Told you it was a stupid question.

Edited by BMWChris on Thursday 22 July 17:03

[BMWChris]

Thanks!

[BMWChris]

Eric Mc said:

There will always be finer points to make.

But the important thing is that the speed of light can vary.

The OP obviously lacked even the most basic understanding of the difference between the speed of sound and the speed of light.

Don't bring me into this. My question was answered in the third post. However, as the OP I object to the tone of this reply. I would have thought that the most basic difference between the speed of sound and the speed of light is that one is fast and one is very fast.

Seem to have understood that ok.

Edited by BMWChris on Friday 23 July 19:07

[BMWChris]

Simpo Two said:

BMWChris said:

Do radio signals travel at the speed of sound?

Eric Mc said:

The OP obviously lacked even the most basic understanding of the difference between the speed of sound and the speed of light

Eric was,as ever, simply being factual. It's a fundamental mistake, but people just can't bear to be told they're ignorant.

760 miles an hour
vs
186,000 miles per second

Somewhere between general knowledge and 'O' level physics. And so now you know Chris

Edited by Simpo Two on Friday 23 July 20:08

"Ignorant" seems a bit strong.

The key part is the "do" in the original question and to note that I had referred to it as a "silly question" in the title. I wasn't thinking that they do, I was asking if they did.

I know a lot of stuff that most other people don't know, but I wouldn't call them "ignorant" just because they don't know it. I am aware that there is a lot more that I don't know than I do and I don't have a problem with it. Consequently I don't need to make sure I let everybody know how clever I am. I guess it’s a self confidence thing.

We didn't do O levels when I was at school but I did learn an interesting lesson about people who need to put others down to mask their own deficiencies. For what its worth I did get an A (no A* in my day) at GCSE Physics but it never really floated my boat and consequently I didn't really pay attention or continue with it after 16.

I had an interesting (to me) question that popped in my mind and I asked purely for amusement. I knew that there must be a very simple answer and, had I thought about it, I would almost certainly have concluded that the radio waves must go much faster than the plane.

I don't want to fall out with you John, you took lovely photographs for us, but I think yourself and Eric should have a think.

[BMWChris]

Of course I knew from a very young age that sound travels much slower than light. The only thing I didn't know was that radio waves travel at the speed of light.