A sonic boom is that sound wave passing by the observer. When an aircraft is moving faster than the speed of sound (breaking the sound barrier), the pressure waves do not propagate in front of the aircraft, but rather create a wave, similar to the wake of a boat, that follows along.
Pressure waves, or better known sound waves, propagate at the speed of sound. Though future studies revealed that the "barrier" pilots spoke of was no more than intense drag created by shockwaves, the aerodynamic design necessary for a plane to successfully break the sound barrier was not created until the following decade. During World War II, a common misconception for the sound barrier was quite literal, as fighter pilots spoke of striking an "invisible wall" powerful enough to tear apart entire aircraft.
Environmental factors such as weather and altitude can affect these chances, but generally any speed higher than the given amount will amount in a sonic boom of some degree. To break the sound barrier, you (or your bullwhip) must exceed about 770 mph at sea level. This "crack" sound is actually a small sonic boom. The tip of a bullwhip is thought to be the first human-made object to break the sound barrier, resulting in the telltale "crack" of the whip. Made of braided leather, the bullwhip was invented about 2,000 years ago. What was the first invention to break the sound barrier?
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