Mach Cone & Shock (Schematic)

This interactive simulator explores Mach Cone (Schematic) in Waves & Sound. M = v/c > 1: Huygens pulses + cone sin μ = 1/M; not CFD shock. Use the controls to change the scenario; watch the visualization and any graphs or readouts to connect the model with lectures, labs, and homework.

Who it's for: Best once you already know the basic definitions and want to build intuition. Typical context: Waves & Sound.

Key terms

  • mach
  • cone
  • schematic
  • mach cone
  • waves
  • sound

How it works

When a source moves **faster than the wave speed** in the medium (M = v/c > 1), elementary wavefronts overlap along a cone. The half-angle satisfies **sin μ = c/v = 1/M**. This page is a **2D Huygens construction** (expanding circles + moving source), not a full compressible-flow shock solver.

Key equations

M = v/c, sin μ = 1/M (M ≥ 1)