Ernst Mach

  • Birth

    Ernst Waldfried Josef Wenzel Mach was born on February 18th, 1838 in Chirlitz, now part of the city Brno in the Czech Republic.
  • University

    Mach received his doctorate in physics in 1860.
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    Teaching

    Taught mechanics and physics in Vienna until 1864, when he became professor of mathematics at the University of Graz.
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    Mach's Band

    Discovered the physiological phenomenon that has come to be called Mach’s bands, the tendency of the human eye to see bright or dark bands near the boundaries between areas of sharply differing illumination.
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    Sound Waves

    Developed optical and photographic techniques for the measurement of sound waves and wave propagation.
  • Mach Speed

    Established the principles of supersonics and the Mach number—the ratio of the velocity of an object to the velocity of sound.
  • University

    Returned to the University of Vienna as professor of inductive philosophy in 1895
  • Death

    Ernst Mach dies