Question

For supersonic compression flows, there is a bow shock formed at the mouth of the Pitot tube.

(a) False

(b) True

This question was addressed to me in an international level competition.

I'd like to ask this question from Measurement of Velocity in a Compressible Flow in portion Normal Shock Waves of Aerodynamics

Answer 1

Correct answer is (b) True

The explanation is: The supersonic flow has a very high velocity. When it finds an obstruction in the form of a Pitot tube, a bow shock is formed for the supersonic flow over a blunt body. As a result, the stagnation pressure at the mouth of the Pitot tube is the pressure behind the bow shock.