Without renouncing the support of physics, it is possible for the physiology of the senses, not only to pursue its own course of development, but also to afford to physical science itself powerful assistance.

Up to the age of 14 Mach received his education at home from his parents. Using schlieren photography he and his son Ludwig were able to photograph the shadows of the invisible shock waves. During that period Mach continued his work in psycho-physics and in sensory perception.

Ernst Waldfried Josef Wenzel Mach (German: [ˈɛɐnst max]; February 18 1838 – February 19 1916) was an Austrian physicist and philosopher noted for his contributions to physics such as the Mach number and the study of shock waves.