# Mach number

(Difference between revisions)
 Revision as of 10:31, 13 September 2005 (view source)Jola (Talk | contribs)m← Older edit Latest revision as of 09:04, 16 August 2007 (view source)Jola (Talk | contribs) m (4 intermediate revisions not shown) Line 4: Line 4: :$M \equiv \frac{u}{a} \equiv \frac{\mbox{local flow speed}}{\mbox{local speed of sound}}$ :$M \equiv \frac{u}{a} \equiv \frac{\mbox{local flow speed}}{\mbox{local speed of sound}}$ - The Mach number can be used to categorise compressible flows into different [[Mach number regimes]] + The Mach number can be used to categorise compressible flows into different [[Mach number regimes]]. To get a more physical insight into Mach number, it is useful if it is viewed as being proportional to the ratio of Kinetic energy to the internal energy of the molecules. - The name "Mach number" originates from the famous pioneer in compressible fluid dynamics [[Ernst Mach]] + On surfaces, like for example on turbomachinery blades, the [[isentropic Mach number]] is often of interest. + + The name "Mach number" originates from the famous pioneer in compressible fluid dynamics [[Ernst Mach]]. [[Category: Dimensionless parameters]] [[Category: Dimensionless parameters]]

## Latest revision as of 09:04, 16 August 2007

The Mach number, $M$, is the local flow-speed, $u$, divided by the local speed of sound, $a$:

$M \equiv \frac{u}{a} \equiv \frac{\mbox{local flow speed}}{\mbox{local speed of sound}}$

The Mach number can be used to categorise compressible flows into different Mach number regimes. To get a more physical insight into Mach number, it is useful if it is viewed as being proportional to the ratio of Kinetic energy to the internal energy of the molecules.

On surfaces, like for example on turbomachinery blades, the isentropic Mach number is often of interest.

The name "Mach number" originates from the famous pioneer in compressible fluid dynamics Ernst Mach.