normal Mach wave

normal Mach wave

A wave formed in front of a body when it is moving at the speed of sound. The waves do not move ahead of the body; they bunch up and form a Mach wave. If a Mach wave is at right angles to the direction of movement of the body, the wave is called a normal Mach wave. The air passing through a normal shock wave slows down to a subsonic speed while its pressure rises.