Mach number: The Mach number is an important parameter used in aviation to describe the speed of an aircraft in relation to the speed of sound in the same atmospheric conditions. The Mach number is calculated by dividing the true airspeed of the aircraft by the speed of sound. The Mach number is named after Austrian physicist Ernst Mach, who made significant contributions to the study of supersonic fluid dynamics in the late 19th century.
The Mach number is a dimensionless quantity that reflects the ratio of the aircraft’s speed to the speed of sound. When an aircraft travels at a supersonic speed, it creates shock waves that can cause sonic booms, aerodynamic heating, and other effects. The Mach number is used to describe these phenomena and to ensure that aircraft operate safely within their design limits.
In addition to aviation, the Mach number is also used in other fields, such as rocketry, high-speed train design, and atmospheric science. The Mach number is an essential tool for understanding the physics of high-speed flow and for designing vehicles that can operate efficiently in these extreme conditions.
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