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BIRTH/EARLY LIFE OF ERNST MACH
Ernst Mach was born in Moravia, Austria on February 18, 1838 and later his family moved to a farm in Untersiebenbrunn, Lower Austria. He studied Physics at University of Vienna from 1855 to 1861. After graduating he continued as a lecturer for three years and then he became Professor of Mathematics at Graz for another three years. -
DOPPLER EFFECT
Mach's first important scientific contribution was over the Doppler Effect. Mach created a six-foot tube apparatus with a whistle attached to it so it could demonstrate that the Doppler effect was real, at least for sound, which was mounted so it can rotate on a vertical plane. -
MACH BANDS
One of Mach's first articles series that was published, "On the effect of the spatial distribution of the light stimulus on the retina", are what are known today as Mach Bands "which are optical illusions caused by contrast perception in the human eye". -
MACH SPEED
In 1866 Mach exchanged his Math Chair for a Physics Chair. After the publication of Mach Bands he studied the propagation of sound waves which is the principal of supersonic and MACH numbers which was essential to modern aerodynamics. While in the late 1860s the development of faster than sound vibration projectile technology was produced. During this time he also proved the existence of shock waves that appear in a cone shape at the tip of the projectile. -
HIGH SPEED PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES
Mach was able to develop high speed photographic techniques as he was working out the details of supersonic motion. -
DEATH OF ERNST MACH
After returning to Vienna, Mach suffered a stroke in 1898 and then retired in 1901. Mach died near Munich on February 19, 1916. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9nIAAb6pjQ Reference: Pojman, Paul. “Ernst Mach.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 3 Mar. 2019, plato.stanford.edu/entries/ernst-mach/.
