5 UNLIKELY SOUND BARRIER SMASHERS

1 WHIP IT

In 1958 it was discovered that the loud crack created by snapping a bullwhip is actually a tiny sonic boom created by the tip of the whip breaking the sound barrier.

2 NO TROUBLE FOR TOWELS

An infamous high school locker room gag, whipping a towel at an unsuspecting teammate and causing a cracking sound is the result of the tip of the towel travelling faster than sound.

3 FLAG THIS ONE

A flag on a flagpole buffeted in a strong wind can cause a sonic boom when its leading edge goes supersonic.

4 A BRUTAL GAME OF PING PONG

In 2018 Mark French and a team from Purdue University created a ping pong bazooka capable of launching these light, hollow plastic balls to speeds exceeding Mach 1.5.

5 FELIX IN FREE FALL

In 2012, Felix Baumgartner leapt from a balloon 24 miles above New Mexico. Not only did he break the then-world-record for a free fall, but travelling at 843.6 miles per hour, or Mach 1.25, he also broke the sound barrier.