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Birth on February 18, 1838 in Chrlice, Moravia
Johann Mach, was a graduate from Prague University and worked a tutor to the noble Brethon family in Zlin. His mother was Josephine Lanhaus who loved music and poetry. in eastern Moravia. His grandfather, Wenzl Lanhaus, an administrator of the Chirlitz estate, was also master builder of the streets. Ernst Mach received his education at home from his parents. and at the age of 14 he then entered school in Kremsier, where he studied for three years. -
University of Vienna
Ernst Mach at 17 years old, In 1855, Mach enrolled as a student at the University of Vienna studying physics, philosophy and mathematics. -
Doctorate of Physics
He received his doctorate in physics in 1860 with his thesis on electrical charge and induction. At the University of Vienna, Mach taught mathematics and physics and he conducted studies on acoustics and the Doppler Effect in optics. Mach created a simple apparatus that showed that the Doppler Effect was real for sound. -
Professor of Mathematics
In 1864 he took a job as professor of mathematics in Graz, Stryia the second largest city in Austria. Having demonstrated his excellent abilities as an experimenter and as a designer of precise measuring devices, in 1864 he was offered a position as professor of mathematics at the University of Graz in Austria. -
Profession change to physics
Two years later Mach changed roles and became their professor of physics. Mach’s interest had now turned to the psychology and physiology of sensation and to the new discipline of psychophysics. During his time here he discovered the physiological optical illusion that came to be known as “Mach’s bands”. -
Charles University in Prague
Mach was appointed as chair of Experimental Physics at the Charles University in Prague Mach published over one hundred scientific papers. He conducted many areas of research during his tenure, retinal stimuli, stereoscopy, auditory perception, optical experiments on interference & spectra and wave motion. Mach also studied the propagation of sound waves which gave rise to the terms “Mach Number” and “Mach Angle”, developing high-speed photographic techniques in the process. -
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Experimental Physics
Mach was appointed as chair of Experimental Physics at the Charles University in Prague Mach published over one hundred scientific papers. He conducted many areas of research during his tenure, retinal stimuli, stereoscopy, auditory perception, optical experiments on interference & spectra and wave motion. Mach also studied the propagation of sound waves which gave rise to the terms “Mach Number” and “Mach Angle”, developing high-speed photographic techniques in the process. -
Science of Mechanics
In 883 Ernst Mach published a book called the Science of Mechanics, a work widely credited with helping instigate a reconsideration of the Newtonian worldview that led to the formulation of special and general relativity. -
Popular Scientific Lectures
Mach's published work in 1855 discusses electrostatics, the conservation of energy, and the speed of light. He also addresses physiological matters, seeking to explain aspects of the hearing system and why humans have two eyes. In the final four lectures, he deals with the nature of scientific study. -
Analysis of Sensations
Ernst Mach laid the groundwork for this theory in his published 1886 book “Analysis of Sensations”. The Analysis of Sensations is about just that, the nature of the relationship of physics and the physical sciences to psychological phenomena of sense and perception. -
Return to Vienna
Mach returned to the University of Vienna, accepting the position of professor of inductive philosophy. -
Retirement
In 1897 Mach suffered from a stroke, leaving the right side of his body paralyzed. In 1901 he retired from the University of Vienna and was appointed to the upper chamber of the Austrian parliament. -
Leaving Vienna
Ernst Mach moved to his son’s home in Vaterstetten, near Munich, where he continued writing and corresponding. -
Died February 19, 1916
Ernst Mach made many contributions to psychology and physiology including his anticipation of Gestalt Theory. Mach carried out important work on “Mach bands”, which are optical illusions caused by contrast perception in the human eye. His most important publication was The Science of Mechanics details the fundamentals of mechanics and gives insight into his scientific reasoning process. Mach criticsized concepts of space and time, Einstein considers Mach as the precursor to Theory of Relativity. -
Reference
Editor Unknown, Famous Scientists : https://www.famousscientists.org/ Alexander, Peter. "Mach, Ernst," in The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Paul Edwards, ed, Vol. 5. MacMillan Publishing Company, 1973.
J.Podolsky, 20 Sept 1998,Ernst Mach In Prague : https://utf.mff.cuni.cz/Relativity/Mach.htm
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Ernst Mach : https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ernst-Mach