From: Farley Flud <ff@linux.rocks>
Subject: Re: A Problem To Solve :-)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.advocacy,sci.physics
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On Mon, 1 Apr 2024 13:40:47 -0500, Physfitfreak wrote:

> 
> 1- what would be the coordinates of the point in the sky, that the 
> missile with the weakest warhead needs to explode at, at time (t 
> -delta), to damage all those 5 fighter jets critically enough, by the 
> time t?
> 

If the warhead explodes at time t, the shock wave can only spread outward
at the speed of sound.  Thus any blast effect would be well past t.

However, if the warhead was a nuke, the blast wave would still be limited
to the speed of sound but other EM effects, such as X-Rays, would travel
at the speed of light.  Intense X-Rays could potentially incapacitate the
pilots and EM effects could fry the aircraft circuitry -- all at time t.

However, Mr. Pennino also has valid points.

I still do not understand your problem and that is why I jumped immediately
to the "minimum enclosing sphere" solution, which would work for a nuclear
warhead designed for radiation kill.