Mach angle

English

Schlieren photography showing the shockwaves separating from the object

diagram of the Mach angle (angle of the shock cone against the axis of travel)

Etymology

Mach (“Ernst Mach”) +‎ angle

Noun

Mach angle (plural Mach angles)

1. The angle at which shock waves separate from an object travelling supersonically. The angle is related to the Mach number of the supersonic object.