Answer:
- the Mach number is 0.24.
- Compressibility becomes effective when Mach number is greater than 0.3, the Mach number of the race cars is less than 0.3, hence, compressibility will not affect their aerodynamics.
Explanation:
Given the data in the question;
Average speed V = 185 miles per hour = ( 185 /2.237 ) m/s = 82.7 m/s
From Almanac, we can find that Indianapolis is at 220 m altitude.
So from table, at that altitude, the standard speed of sound will be 339.4 m/s .
Mach number of the race car will be;
Mach Number = Velocity / sound speed
we substitute
Mach Number = ( 82.7 m/s ) / ( 339.4 m/s )
Mach Number = 0.24
Therefore the Mach number is 0.24.
We know that, compressibility becomes effective when the Mach number is greater than 0.3.
Since the Mach number of the race cars is less than 0.3, compressibility will not affect their aerodynamics.
