Mach (20°C, 1 atm) to Millimeter per Hour

Mach number is the ratio of an object's speed to the speed of sound in the surrounding medium. Mach 1 at 20°C, 1 atm equals approximately 343.6 m/s (1,235 km/h).

Mach = velocity ÷ speed_of_sound. At 20°C: Mach 1 = 343.6 m/s. Speed of sound = √(γRT/M) where γ = heat capacity ratio.

To m/s (at 20°C): × 343.6. To km/h (at 20°C): × 1,237. Note: changes with altitude and temperature.

Fighter jets (Mach 1.5–2.5), commercial aircraft (Mach 0.8–0.85), space shuttle reentry (Mach 25), and missile speeds.

Concorde: Mach 2.04. SR-71 Blackbird: Mach 3.3. X-15: Mach 6.7. Meteorites enter at Mach 50+. Subsonic <1, supersonic >1, hypersonic >5.

Thinking Mach is constant — it varies with temperature/altitude. At 30,000 ft, Mach 1 ≈ 295 m/s (colder air = slower sound).

Mach 1 = speed of sound. Below Mach 1 = subsonic. Mach 1–5 = supersonic. Above Mach 5 = hypersonic. It's a ratio, not a fixed speed.

Millimeter per hour measures extremely slow movements in millimeters over an hour. Used for minute geological and material changes.

1 mm/h = 0.001 m/h = 0.0000001 km/h = 0.000000278 m/s.

To m/s: ÷ 3,600,000. To cm/h: ÷ 10. To m/h: ÷ 1,000.

Cave formation rates (stalactite/stalagmite growth), extremely slow material creep, and long-term geological monitoring.

Stalactite growth: 0.1–1 mm/h in active caves. Human hair growth: ~0.015 mm/h. Fingernail growth: ~0.004 mm/h.

Using for anything except the slowest processes. Confusing with mm/min (60× faster).

1,000 mm/h = 1 m/h. Extremely specialized unit. Think geological time scales.