The Mach number, often denoted as “M,” is a dimensionless parameter used in aircraft design and aerodynamics to represent an aircraft’s speed relative to the speed of sound in the surrounding air. It is a fundamental measure of an aircraft’s velocity and is critical for understanding the aerodynamic behavior of the aircraft at high speeds. The formula for calculating the Mach number is as follows:
- is the Mach number (dimensionless).
- is the true airspeed of the aircraft (typically in meters per second or feet per second).
- is the speed of sound in the surrounding air (typically in meters per second or feet per second).