1. What is Mach Number?

Mach Number is a dimensionless quantity defined as the ratio of the speed of an object to the speed of sound in the surrounding medium. It is commonly used in aerodynamics and fluid dynamics to characterize the speed of aircraft and other objects moving through fluids.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mach Number formula:

Where:

• \( M_r \) — Mach Number (dimensionless)
• \( v \) — Velocity of the object (m/s)
• \( c \) — Speed of sound in the medium (m/s)

Explanation: The Mach Number indicates how many times faster an object is moving compared to the speed of sound in that particular medium.

3. Importance of Mach Number Calculation

Details: Mach Number is crucial in aeronautics for classifying flight regimes (subsonic, transonic, supersonic, hypersonic), designing aircraft, and understanding compressibility effects on airflow around objects.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter velocity in meters per second and speed of sound in meters per second. Both values must be positive numbers. The speed of sound in air at sea level is approximately 343 m/s.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the different Mach regimes?
A: Subsonic (M < 0.8), Transonic (0.8 ≤ M ≤ 1.2), Supersonic (1.2 < M < 5.0), Hypersonic (M ≥ 5.0).

Q2: How does speed of sound vary with medium?
A: Speed of sound depends on the medium's properties - it's faster in solids, slower in gases, and varies with temperature and pressure in air.

Q3: What is Mach 1?
A: Mach 1 means the object is moving exactly at the speed of sound in that medium. This is known as the sound barrier.

Q4: Why is Mach Number dimensionless?
A: Since it's a ratio of two velocities (both having the same units), the units cancel out, making it a pure number without dimensions.

Q5: How does temperature affect the calculation?
A: Temperature affects the speed of sound (c = √(γRT) for ideal gases), which in turn affects the Mach Number for a given velocity.