Shocks and after effects:

Any student of fluid mechanics will know the reason for the formation of shocks. When the particles travel with a speed greater than that of speed of sound, a shock is formed. Delving deeper into the physics of it we know that the the point of contact on the surface in a supersonic flow is not receiving information from the particles yet to come over it and hence the flow cannot adjust according to the normal subsonic flow conditions. When the information about the existence of the surface reaches the particles depending upon the speed of sound, the particles change path and that happens at a particular location so as to maintain the conservation equations. The result is a shock wave which is a discontinuity due to jumps observed in the values of measureable quantities such as pressure and temperature. This brief story tells us the importance of flow of information. If a particle/person moves at a faster speed than the speed of the incoming information, i.e., not listening to the information coming to him, he is surely to face a situation as that of a shock with discontinuities across it. On reaching a particular distance from the source of information the person will become aware of the existence of the surface and will have to adjust in a very short duration to avoid damage to himself from the presence of imminent danger in the form of the surface. Had he been more attentive and not moving too fast he would have sensed the presence of the surface/danger and taken a smoother course of action to avoid it (would have had more time to think properly and avoid it). Since he faces a shock now he will have to see discontinuities. Nature is perfect and still it sees discontinuity with huge jumps in pressure and temperature across a shock. Imagine an imperfect man facing that shock. I doubt that a man can be as perfect as nature to bear the shock and move on easily.