How fast is she exactly? I know she can break the sound barrier, but are she faster than a lightning bolt? I need to know because of fanfic reasons. I would think it depends on whenever the sonic rainboom is at the speed of light and breaking the light spectrum(therefore the rainbow) or not. Anypony have any thoughts? I ask because I am worthless at science.
Rainbow Dash has a top speed of at least 343.2 metres per second (if the atmospheric temperature is 20[SUP]o[/SUP]C).
Well, in the MLP:FiM universe, the Laws of Physics are violated a lot, so I wouldn't put much stock in trying to apply logic. Based on the show, the name Sonic Rainboom seems to imply that she was going faster than the speed of sound (≈340 m/s, although it changes based on certain atmospheric properties). The rainbow is just an added effect. She couldn't have been going as fast as the speed of light because it took several seconds for her to get to Rarity after the Rainboom had occurred. If she was going even close to the speed of light, it would've appeared instantaneous to us. There's actually a video presentation related to this question. It was made by the so-called "Physics Brony." I don't know if you've seen it or not. Basically, he calculated her velocity at ≈1,635 m/s. Which is between Mach 4 and Mach 5. Woah.
This message emanates temporal energies: Looking at his calculations, he derped them. Look closely. He neglected to involve this. (Or at least, calculate it properly). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_(physics)
Well, his calculations weren't perfect, but remember this is a cartoon. Applying such things are from our universe, not theirs. As I said, applying logic to an illogical universe, albeit interesting and entertaining, is still illogical. In other words, don't take it so seriously.
Thanks everypony, this has been helpful. From what I have read, a lightning bolt can travel at half the speed of light, so it is still faster than Rainbow Dash. Still, the only two characters in fiction I can think of that is faster than Rainbow Dash is Superman and the Flash, Sonic is definatly slower. Pretty impressive for a pony . Yet, Dash is not the fastest character in the show. Somehow thats Pinkie Pie, though I do not know how that makes sense .
This message emanates temporal energies: It makes perfect sense. Just like half the thing that come out of my mouth. Please proceed to papyrus.
It's Pinkie, of course it makes sense. And, really, Pinkie can just open small wormholes and teleport across Equestria.
Over nine thousand. Her speed is over nine thousand. What unit you ask? Horse apples! It's measured in Horse Apples!
This message emanates temporal energies: Hey. That's completely possible. I measure my computer's PSU in Horse Power. (2HP)
Sonic is not slower than RD. In fact, he reaches the speed of light. Proof here : http://whatnoww.freeforums.org/sonic-vs-the-flash-t39.html But RD is pretty fast.
She's fast enough to break the sound barrier and create a rainbow trail around her at the same time I thought that was obvious.
This thread is super old, but it seems like it can still be a decent discussion. Other than her top speed, I wonder what her record is for going 0-60mph.
