AI Summary

The sonic booms produced by meteors are a result of the rapid expansion of air as the object enters the Earth's atmosphere. This expansion creates a shockwave that produces the characteristic sonic boom sound. The energy released by a meteor's sonic boom can be substantial, equivalent to hundreds of tons of TNT. This is due to the immense speed at which the meteor is traveling, often exceeding 40,000 miles per hour. As the meteor encounters the atmosphere, it rapidly decelerates, releasing a significant amount of energy in the process. The phenomenon highlights the immense forces at play in the Earth's atmosphere, where objects traveling at high speeds can produce significant sonic effects.

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