1. What is Mach Angle?

The Mach angle is the angle between the direction of motion of a supersonic object and the Mach wave (shock wave) it creates. It is defined by the inverse sine of the reciprocal of the Mach number.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Mach angle formula:

Where:

• \( \theta \) — Mach angle (degrees)
• \( M \) — Mach number (dimensionless)

Explanation: The formula calculates the angle at which shock waves propagate from an object moving at supersonic speeds.

3. Importance of Mach Angle Calculation

Details: Mach angle calculation is crucial in aerodynamics for understanding shock wave behavior, designing supersonic aircraft, and analyzing sonic boom effects.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter Mach number (must be greater than 1 for valid Mach angle). The calculator returns the angle in degrees.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a Mach number?
A: Mach number is the ratio of an object's speed to the speed of sound in the surrounding medium.

Q2: Why must Mach number be greater than 1?
A: Mach angle only exists for supersonic speeds (Mach > 1). At subsonic speeds, no shock waves form.

Q3: What are typical Mach angle values?
A: Mach angle decreases as Mach number increases. At Mach 1, angle is 90°; at Mach 2, about 30°; at Mach 5, about 11.5°.

Q4: How is Mach angle used in practice?
A: Used in aircraft design, sonic boom analysis, and understanding supersonic flow patterns around objects.

Q5: Can this calculator handle very high Mach numbers?
A: Yes, though extremely high Mach numbers will produce very small angles that approach 0°.