File:Supersonic Bullet Shadowgraph.jpg

Summary
Image of a supersonic bullet created using a Shadowgraph. The V-shaped shockwaves are clearly visible; propagating from the front-most tip of the bullet is the "bow shockwave," behind which are various other shockwaves caused by the bullets driving bands -- raised bands around the bullet that form a seal with the barrels riflings. Trailing the bullet is a region of strong turbulence, which forms as air rushes in to fill the partial vacuum behind it.

Image from NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/galex/20070815/f.html courtesy of Andrew Davidhazy/Rochester Institute of Technology

I cleaned up, resized and edited this photo.

Licensing:
This photograph was not created by NASA - it was made by me, Prof. Andrew Davidhazy, and I retain copyright but allow usage for educational purposes. Commercial use strictly forbidden without permission. This is a cropped version of the full image which you can see here: http://www.davidhazy.org/andpph/photofile-b/shadowgraph-bullet-1.jpg

I don't know how to modify or deal with Commons License etc. so would appreciate assistance in this regard.