Machpic

Ernst Mach (1838-1916)

By robertalldredge

  • Early Years

    Early Years
    Ernst Mach was born in 1838 in the Czech Republic. His father, Johann Mach, graduated from Prague University and worked as a tutor for a noble Brethon family in Zlin. Ernst received his education at home from his parents until the age of fifteen, he then entered a Gymnasium in Kremsier, where he studied for three years. In 1855, Mach enrolled as a student at the University of Vienna studying physics, philosophy and mathematics. (Early Life, 2019) https://www.famousscientists.org/ernst-mach/

  • Education

    Education
    Ernst received his doctorate in physics in 1860 with his thesis “On electrical charge and induction”. At the university, he taught mathematics and physics while he conducted studies on acoustics and the Doppler Effect. In 1867, Mach was appointed as chair of Experimental Physics at the Charles University in Prague. (Career Path, 2019) Educational video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgGbeRBX_eE

  • Accomplishments

    Accomplishments
    Mach carried out important work on “Mach bands”, which are optical illusions caused by contrast perception in the human eye. 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. His most important publication was “The Science of Mechanics: A Critical and Historical Account of Its Development” (1893) which details the fundamentals of mechanics. (Achievements and Work, 2019)

  • Personal Life

    Personal Life
    In 1867, Ernst Mach married Ludovica Marussig in Graz. They had five children, four sons and one daughter. 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. On leaving Vienna in 1913 he moved to his son’s home in Vaterstetten, near Munich, where he continued writing and corresponding until his death on February 19th, 1916. (Personal and Death, 2019)