How can a jet create a sonic boom?

A jet creates a sonic boom when it travels faster than the speed of sound, which is approximately 343 meters per second (1,125 feet per second) at sea level. As the jet moves, it compresses air in front of it, creating shock waves. When these shock waves merge, they form a cone-shaped wavefront that radiates outward. When this wave reaches the ground, it is heard as a loud, explosive sound known as a sonic boom.