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Mach number

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The Mach number, <math>M</math>, is the local flow-speed, <math>u</math>, divided by the local
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speed of sound, <math>a</math>:
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:<math>M \equiv \frac{u}{a} \equiv \frac{\mbox{local flow speed}}{\mbox{local speed of sound}}</math>
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The Mach number can be used to categorise a compressible flows into different [[Mach number regimes]]
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The name "Mach number" originates from the famous pioneer in compressible fluid dynamics [[Ernst Mach]]
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[[Category: Dimensionless parameters]]
[[Category: Dimensionless parameters]]

Revision as of 10:31, 13 September 2005

The Mach number, M, is the local flow-speed, u, divided by the local speed of sound, a:

M \equiv \frac{u}{a} \equiv \frac{\mbox{local flow speed}}{\mbox{local speed of sound}}

The Mach number can be used to categorise a compressible flows into different Mach number regimes

The name "Mach number" originates from the famous pioneer in compressible fluid dynamics Ernst Mach

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