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Birth of Ernst Mach
Ernst Waldfried Josef Wenzel Mach was born in Chrlice, Moravia which was previously in the Austrian empire, and is now part of Brno in the Czech Republic. -
Doctorate Degree in Physics
Home schooled in his early days, Ernst Mach goes on to receive a Doctorate Degree in Physics from the University of Vienna at the age of 22. He will spend his entire life dedicated to the study of physics and philosophy. -
The Science of Mechanics
Mach's goal with this book was to clear up the science of mechanics and reduce obscure ideas in the subject. The book contained only a small amount of math, because Mach saw it as a physical science, not a branch of mathematics. His views encouraged scientists to approach mechanics with innocence, rather than with the technical expertise of a calculator. -
Mach Number
Ernst Mach correctly describes the sound effects observed during the supersonic motion of a projectile. The ratio of the speed of a fluid to the local speed of sound is now called the Mach number. This concept also points out the importance of relative speeds. Mach works with photographer Peter Salcher to visually document this discovery. -
Contributions to the Analysis of Sensations
Mach advanced the concept that all knowledge is derived from sensation. He argued that results observed in scientific investigation can be understood only in terms of experiences, or “sensations,” present in the observation of the experiment. This paved the way for a new school of thought; no statement in natural science is admissible unless it is empirically verifiable. Ultimately, this prepared the way for the Einstein relativity theory. -
Final Days
Mach suffered survived a heart attack in 1898, which caused him to retire in 1901. He spent his final days writing to various colleagues and spent time as a member of Austrian Parliament until his death in 1916. -
Logical Positivism
One of Mach's greatest legacies was his influence on Logical Positivism, a method of science which places a necessity on empirical evidence. Mach argued that scientific observations are only meaningful when they come as a result of our senses, and then only when the results are meaningful. Though it was after his death, Logical Positivism had deep roots in Mach's philosophy.
