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X-1, the first plane to break the sound barrier

The Sound Barrier caused by the increase in drag near Mach 1

The term sound barrier is actually a misnomer that is technically inaccurate. The phrase was originally coined during the 1930s as fluid dynamics research pushed closer and closer to the speed of sound. It was soon discovered that the aerodynamic force of drag grew increasingly large when approaching Mach 1, a phenomenon we now recognize as the transonic drag rise caused by the formation of shock waves.

This behavior led many to believe that there was some sort of physical barrier that would prevent an object from reaching supersonic speeds. However, this belief turned out to be incorrect, and supersonic vehicles are commonplace today. We know today that there is no "sound barrier," and the antiquated term ought to be discontinued. Regardless, the phrase has taken on a life of its own and is still widely used by the general public, though you'll rarely find any aerospace engineers who do so.

 So prevalent is the phrase that many dictionaries providing translations from English to other languages even include a direct translation of the term "sound barrier." Most of these forms are a literal translation of the words "sound" and "barrier," though some languages use slightly modified terminology like "sound wall" or "sonic barrier." The following table lists a sample of the equivalents we have found in a variety of languages.

The phrase "sound barrier" has become a universally recognized part of speech in most, if not all, of the world's major languages. The fact that it is a technically incorrect description of supersonic flight appears to make little difference, and the popularity of the term "sound barrier" shows no signs of diminishing.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that although English is not by any means the official language of most nations, it is the official language of the international air traffic control system. All pilots and air traffic controllers are required to converse in English on international routes, and many countries also require English to be spoken on domestic routes even if it is not the native language.

 by Greg Alexander,