Convert Cosmic Velocity - Third (v₃) to Mach (20°C, 1 atm) (Ma (20°C)) instantly.
About these units
Cosmic Velocity - Third (v₃)
The third cosmic velocity is the speed required to escape the entire Solar System from Earth's orbit, overcoming the gravitational pull of the Sun. This speed is approximately 16.7 km/s, though missions often achieve this gradually using gravitational assists rather than brute-force acceleration. Space probes such as Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and New Horizons have exceeded v₃, making them interstellar travelers. The third cosmic velocity represents the threshold where an object ceases to be bound to the Sun and begins drifting through the galaxy—one of the most profound expansions of human technological capability.
Mach (20°C, 1 atm) (Ma (20°C))
At 20°C and 1 atmosphere, the speed of sound in air is about 343 m/s, making Mach 1 = 343 m/s under those conditions. Mach numbers classify aerodynamic regimes: Mach 0.3–0.8 (Subsonic), Mach 0.8–1.2 (Transonic), Mach 1–5 (Supersonic), Mach 5+ (Hypersonic). Temperature influences Mach speed significantly; colder air slows sound, while warmer air increases its speed. Aircraft design, jet engines, wind tunnels, aerospace testing, and atmospheric re-entry physics all rely heavily on Mach numbers referenced to standard conditions.