Why does a conical cloud sometimes form at the tail of an aircraft flying supersonic?

In the case of aircraft, the cloud is caused by expansion fans decreasing the air pressure, density and temperature below the dew point. Since the local Mach number is not uniform over the aircraft, parts of the aircraft may be supersonic while others remain subsonic—a flight regime called transonic flight.

Are clouds condensation?

Condensation: Clouds form as air flows up a ridge. Condensation is the term for water that is existing as a gas (water vapor) turning back into liquid water. When air is chilled, the water vapor in the air condenses out into tiny liquid water particles, which form the clouds.

How do the clouds that form and are seemingly attached to the aircrafts occur?

Contrails are a type of ice cloud, formed by aircraft as water vapor condenses around small dust particles, which provide the vapor with sufficient energy to freeze. They can also form when water vapor from the airplane’s engines collide with the water vapor in the air.

How are condensation trails formed?

The condensation trail left behind jet aircrafts are called contrails. Contrails form when hot humid air from jet exhaust mixes with environmental air of low vapor pressure and low temperature. The mixing is a result of turbulence generated by the engine exhaust.

How are clouds formed condensation?

Clouds exist in the atmosphere because of rising air. As air rises and cools the water in it can “condense out”, forming clouds. Since clouds drift over the landscape, they are one of the ways that water moves geographically around the globe in the water cycle.

Why condensation takes place high in the sky?

Condensation happens because of temperature changes. Warmer air can contain more water vapor than colder air, so when air rises up from the heated earth’s surface high into the sky (warm air rises, as I’m sure you’ve heard), to where the temperatures are colder, condensation happens and clouds form.