Which option can help reduce shockwaves and sonic booms in supersonic aircraft?

The correct option aiding in the reduction of shockwaves and sonic booms is to sweep the wings back. When supersonic aircraft travel faster than the speed of sound, they create shockwaves, which lead to sonic booms. The design of the aircraft plays a significant role in how these shockwaves form.

Sweeping the wings back is beneficial because it changes the angle at which the air interacts with the wings. This configuration helps to delay the appearance of shockwaves by allowing the aircraft to maintain a smoother flow of air over its wings, thereby reducing the intensity of the shockwave. A design with swept-back wings also tends to decrease drag and improve aerodynamic efficiency at high speeds.

In contrast, simply decreasing the thickness of the wings may not adequately address the formation of shockwaves and could compromise the lift and structural integrity needed for flight. Decreasing the length of the nose does not inherently impact the shockwave formation as significantly as the wing structure. Increasing wingspan can have mixed effects on drag and lift but does not specifically target the reduction of shockwaves.

Therefore, the most effective way to manage sonic booms in supersonic aircraft is achieved through wing design, particularly by sweeping the wings back.