Mach 10 refers to a speed of approximately 10 times the speed of sound, which is about 343 meters per second (1,125 feet per second) at sea level and 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). To calculate how fast Mach 10 would go around the Earth, we need to consider several factors, including the Earth’s circumference, the altitude of the aircraft, and the effects of air resistance.
The circumference of the Earth at the equator is approximately 40,075 kilometers (24,901 miles). If an aircraft were to travel around the equator at Mach 10 without stopping or slowing down, it would take approximately 4,007.5 seconds, or just over an hour and six minutes, to complete one lap around the planet.
However, traveling at such high speeds would not be practical or safe for several reasons. First, there are no known aircraft that can fly at Mach 10 for an extended period of time. Currently, the fastest aircraft in the world, the X-43A, has achieved a top speed of Mach 9.6, but only for a few seconds at a time during test flights.
Second, the altitude of the aircraft would also affect its speed due to differences in air density at different heights. As an aircraft flies higher, the air becomes thinner, which means there is less air resistance and less drag on the aircraft. This allows the aircraft to travel faster and more efficiently. However, the tradeoff is that the air is also colder and contains less oxygen, which can make it more difficult to operate and maintain the aircraft’s engines and systems.
Finally, there are also practical considerations such as refueling, maintenance, and safety that would need to be addressed for an aircraft traveling at such high speeds. For example, the X-43A had to be launched from a rocket and only had enough fuel for a few seconds of flight, after which it glided back to Earth. In order to travel around the Earth at Mach 10, an aircraft would need to be able to carry enough fuel to sustain high speeds for an extended period of time, as well as have a robust and reliable maintenance and safety system.
In conclusion, while Mach 10 represents an extremely high speed, it is not currently possible for an aircraft to sustain such speeds for an extended period of time. The Earth’s circumference at the equator is approximately 40,075 kilometers (24,901 miles), and if an aircraft were to travel around the equator at Mach 10 without stopping or slowing down, it would take approximately 4,007.5 seconds, or just over an hour and six minutes, to complete one lap around the planet. However, due to practical considerations such as altitude, air resistance, refueling, maintenance, and safety, it is not currently possible to achieve such high speeds in a sustained manner.
