-
Born in Chirlitz, Moravia (now Brno, Czech Republic) to Johann Mach and Josephine Lanhaus.
-
Enrolled as a student at the University of Vienna studying physics, philosophy and mathematics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
In 1895, Mach returned to the University of Vienna as a professor of inductive philosophy.
-
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. -
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.
-
“Knowledge and Error”
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bfm%3A978-94-010-1428-1%2F1.pdf -
Died in Vaterstetten, Germany on February 19, 1916.
