Maximum deflection through a strong perfect-gas shock
= Maximum deflection through a strong perfect-gas shock
{title2=$\delta_{\max}=\arcsin(1/\gamma)$}
For the circle with center distance $a=\gamma U/(\gamma+1)$ and radius $R=U/(\gamma+1)$, the most deflected ray from the origin is tangent. The right triangle formed by the origin, center and tangency point gives $\sin\delta_{\max}=R/a=1/\gamma$. This is a velocity-vector deflection angle, not the angle of the shock normal.