Multiple choice

The local speed of sound comes in use in calculation of which of the following measurements?

  1. Altitude

  2. Mach number

  3. True airspeed

  4. Distance from a VOR facility
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Mach number is the ratio of an object's speed to the local speed of sound. To calculate Mach number, you need both the aircraft's true airspeed and the local speed of sound at that altitude. The local speed of sound varies with temperature (approximately 39 knots times the square root of absolute temperature in Kelvin).

Keep practicing — related questions