Mach Number to Speed Of Sound Conversion
Enter the Mach number below to convert the speed to speed of sound.
How to Convert Mach Number to Speed Of Sound
To convert a Mach measurement to a speed of sound measurement, multiply the Mach number by the conversion ratio. Mach 1 is equal to 1 speed of sound, so use this simple formula to convert:
The speed in speed of sound is equal to the Mach number multiplied by 1.
Mach number and speed of sound are both units used to measure speed. Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.
Mach Number
Mach, sometimes also referred to as a Mach number, is the ratio of the speed of an object to the speed of sound.[1]
Mach can be abbreviated as M, and is also sometimes abbreviated as Ma. For example, Mach 1 can be written as 1 M or 1 Ma.
Although Mach can be abbreviated M or Ma, the Mach number is typically expressed with the number after the unit name. For example, the expression Mach 3 is preferred rather than 3 Machs or 3 M.
The speed is classified as either subsonic, transonic, supersonic, or hypersonic depending on the Mach number.
| Speed Classification | Mach Number |
|---|---|
| Subsonic | Mach < 1.0 |
| Transonic | Mach = 1.0 |
| Supersonic | Mach > 1.0 |
| Hypersonic | Mach > 5.0 |
Speed Of Sound
The speed of sound is the distance a sound wave travels through an elastic medium. The speed of sound through air at 20 °C is equal to 343 meters per second,[2] or roughly 767 miles per hour.
Speed of sound can be abbreviated as sound; for example, 1 speed of sound can be written as 1 sound.
Mach to Speed Of Sound Conversion Table
| Mach Number | Speed Of Sound |
|---|---|
| Mach 0.25 | 0.25 sound |
| Mach 0.5 | 0.5 sound |
| Mach 0.75 | 0.75 sound |
| Mach 1 | 1 sound |
| Mach 1.5 | 1.5 sound |
| Mach 2 | 2 sound |
| Mach 2.5 | 2.5 sound |
| Mach 3 | 3 sound |
| Mach 3.5 | 3.5 sound |
| Mach 4 | 4 sound |
| Mach 4.5 | 4.5 sound |
| Mach 5 | 5 sound |
| Mach 5.5 | 5.5 sound |
| Mach 6 | 6 sound |
| Mach 6.5 | 6.5 sound |
| Mach 7 | 7 sound |
| Mach 7.5 | 7.5 sound |
| Mach 8 | 8 sound |
| Mach 8.5 | 8.5 sound |
| Mach 9 | 9 sound |
| Mach 9.5 | 9.5 sound |
| Mach 10 | 10 sound |
References
- NASA, Mach Number, https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/BGH/mach.html
- CK-12, Speed of Sound, https://www.ck12.org/physics/speed-of-sound/lesson/Speed-of-Sound-MS-PS/