Ernst Mach - biographical facts

Ernst Mach was an Austrian physiciss and philosopher whose ideas about research and physical science made it possible for Albert Einstein to work out his theory of relativity. Mach's studies of bodies moving through gases at high speeds gave rise to the use of the term Mach Number. Mach 1, for example, is the speed of sound. Mach 0.5 is half the speed of sound. Mach 2 is twice the speed of sound.

Although the results of Ernst Mach's experiments were published, they were not noticed or used until airplanes began to approach speeds close to the speed of sound. His work has had great influence on modern scientific thought.

Born at Turos, Moravia, February 18, 1838, Mach was educated in Vienna. He served as professor of physics at the University of Graz from 1864-1867, at the University of Prague from 1867-1895, and as professor of philosophy at the University of Vienna from 1895-1901. In 1901 he was elevated to the Austrian peerage. He died near Munich, Germany, February 19, 1916.