Never thought I'd be able to pose a question amongst such learned fellows, and I will perhaps expose my ignorance just a little.....but a little nagging question, that the answer will most likely be very obvious, but anyway....
Since heat does not leave the affected air mass, this is an adiabatic change of pressure, with an associated change of temperature. Under humid air conditions, the drop in temperature in the most rarified portion of the shock wave (close to the aircraft) can bring the air temperature below its dew point. At this temperature, moisture condenses to form visible microscopic water droplets. As the pressure effect of the wave is reduced by its expansion (the same pressure effect is spread over a larger radius), the vapor effect also has a limited radius.
The part I am struggling to grasp is ....,
"Since heat does not leave the affected air mass, this is an adiabatic change of pressure, with an associated change of temperature."
??Heat does not leave...but there is an associated change of temp???
Thanks in advance
