Mach number effects

Mach number measures how fast an object moves relative to the speed of sound in its surroundings. When an object travels below the speed of sound (subsonic), airflow smoothly moves around it. As it approaches Mach 1, airflow starts to change dramatically, creating shock waves. Beyond Mach 1 (supersonic), these shock waves grow stronger, causing increased drag, noise, and instability. Understanding Mach number effects helps engineers design aircraft and projectiles for optimal performance by managing these aerodynamic changes across different speed regimes.