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About Ernst Mach
Ernst was born on 18 February 1838 in Brno, Czech Republic.
His parents possessed artistic abilities and excellent education; these traits paved Ernst's interest in philosophical and scientific innovations.
After completing his home school education, he attended a Gymnasium for three years. In 1855, he studied a year in physics and medical physiology. In 1860, he earned his doctorate in physics after presenting his thesis in electrical charge and induction.
He later passed on 19 February 1916. -
Contributions to the Doppler Effect (Light)
The Doppler effect had multiple explanations initially, but Mach developed the most accurate way to describe the theory. His findings were in comparison to his findings on the speed of sound. "He theorized and experimentally proved the existence of shock waves which appear in the shape of a cone with the projectile at the tip."(2022) -
Doppler Effect Video
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Discovery of Inner Ear
Mach discovers how the fluids of the inner ear help us understand our sense of being vertical. "The three semicircular canals, oriented roughly perpendicular to each other, provide a mechanical system that responds to motion in each direction, and the changing pressure of the fluids against membranes in the ampullae, located at the ends of the canals, as shown in figure 3, provides the basis for our sensation and for our distinction between angular acceleration and angular velocity." -
Significant Event
Mach made many different contributions to the science world, but the speed of sound was his most significant and impactful discovery that changed aspects of science today as we know it. Mach created a number that explained the ratio of the velocity of an object to the speed of sound. He developed techniques for measuring sound waves with optical and photographic abilities. -
References
Staley, R. (2013, December 1). Ernst Mach on bodies and buckets. Physics Today. Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://physicstoday.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/PT.3.2214 Sterrett, S. G. (1998, March 11). Sounds like light: Einstein's theory of special relativity and Mach's work in acoustics and Aerodynamics. PhilSci Archive. Retrieved January 21, 2023, from http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/9496/