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Ernst Waldfried Josef Wenzel Mach
Born in Chirlitz, Moravia (now Brno, Czech Republic) to Johann Mach and Josephine Lanhaus. -
University of Vienna
Enrolled as a student at the University of Vienna studying physics, philosophy and mathematics. -
Ph.D
Received doctorate in physics with the thesis “On electrical charge and induction”. He continued his stay at the University of Vienna as a "private dozent" until 1864. -
University of Graz
After his four years at the University of Vienna. Mach became a professor of mathematics at the University of Graz in 1864. This is where he started to have more interests and experiments in psychology and physiology of sensation. -
Mach Bands
During his teachings at the University of Graz, Mach discovered a physiological phenomenon now called Mach Bands. Mach Bands are the optical illusion of your eye seeing a light band and a dark band between graduating colors. A phenomenon illustrated best using graduating grey bands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWTlEoNyVfE -
Charles University, Prague
Leaving University of Graz for Charles University in Prague in 1867. Mach Became a professor of experimental physics. Mach remained at Charles University for the next 28 years. -
Mach Number
Due his work in optical and photographic techniques in measuring sound waves and wave propagation, Mach figured out the principles of supersonics. Thus developing the Mach Number - "the ratio of the velocity of an object to the velocity of sound." https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ernst-Mach -
Return to Vienna
In 1895, Mach returned to the University of Vienna as a professor of inductive philosophy. -
Beiträge zur Analyse der Empfindungen
Contributions to the Analysis of the Sensations was originally written, by Mach, in 1886. It was published in 1897 and is open to the public here, https://archive.org/details/contributionsto00machgoog/page/n7
The concept Mach developed was that all knowledge is derived from sensations. Mach's position was that no statement in natural science is admissible unless it is empirically verifiable. -
Retirement and Parliament
After suffering from a stroke in 1897, Mach continued his active research until 1901. In 1901 after retiring, Mach was appointed to the upper house of the Austrian Parliament. -
Erkenntnis und Irrtum
“Knowledge and Error”
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bfm%3A978-94-010-1428-1%2F1.pdf -
Death of Ernst Mach
Died in Vaterstetten, Germany on February 19, 1916.
