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Does the shockwave from a nuclear detonation initially travel faster than the speed of sound?

Yes, the shockwave from a nuclear detonation initially travels much faster than the speed of sound.

Speed of sound in air is roughly 343 meters per second (about 1,235 km/h or 767 mph) at sea level.

In the immediate aftermath of a nuclear explosion, the shockwave—also called the blast wave—can reach speeds of several kilometers per second, depending on the yield and altitude of the detonation. This is known as a supersonic shockwave, and it can cause extreme destruction over a wide radius.

As the shockwave expands outward, it slows down due to energy dispersion and interaction with the atmosphere. Eventually, it transitions into a regular sound wave traveling at the speed of sound.

So in short: yes, the initial shockwave is supersonic, and its speed is one of the reasons nuclear blasts are so devastating. Want to dive into how this compares to conventional explosives or how the shockwave affects structures and people?