Mach number is named in honor of which physicist?

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Study for the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Mach number is named in honor of which physicist?

Explanation:
Mach number measures how fast an object is moving relative to the speed of sound in the surrounding medium. It is named in honor of Ernst Mach, a physicist who studied gas dynamics and the behavior of sonic waves and shock waves in gases. The term recognizes his work in this area, which laid the groundwork for comparing a vehicle’s speed to the local speed of sound. In practice, you determine the Mach number by dividing true airspeed by the speed of sound at the air’s temperature. The other scientists listed made foundational contributions to physics, but the specific speed ratio used in aerodynamics is named for Ernst Mach.

Mach number measures how fast an object is moving relative to the speed of sound in the surrounding medium. It is named in honor of Ernst Mach, a physicist who studied gas dynamics and the behavior of sonic waves and shock waves in gases. The term recognizes his work in this area, which laid the groundwork for comparing a vehicle’s speed to the local speed of sound. In practice, you determine the Mach number by dividing true airspeed by the speed of sound at the air’s temperature. The other scientists listed made foundational contributions to physics, but the specific speed ratio used in aerodynamics is named for Ernst Mach.

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