Sound on Mars travels at two different speeds

The speed of sound is not a constant, as it changes depending on the density and temperature of the medium in which it moves. The denser the medium, the faster it moves. In the Earth’s atmosphere it moves at 343 meters per second at 20 degrees Celsius and at 1,480 meters per second in water.

Mars’ atmosphere is much thinner than Earth’s, about 0.020kg / m3 compared to 1.2kg / m3 on Earth. This, as expected, means that sound on Mars travels slower than on Earth. However, thanks to Perseverance Rover microphones, the scientists have discovered something we have not encountered again. Sound on Mars travels at two different speeds.

Due to the unique properties of carbon dioxide molecules at low pressure, Mars is the only rocky planet in the Solar System whose atmosphere causes a change in the speed of sound at the acoustic frequency (20 Hertz – 20,000 Hertz).

So it was found that sound crosses the atmosphere near the surface at a speed of 240 meters per second. However, at frequencies above 240 Hertz, the vibration of the carbon dioxide molecules does not manage to return to calm and as a result the sound travels 10 meters per second faster.

This practically means that if one were standing on the surface of Mars, one would first hear the high frequencies of a sound before the bass reached. Scientists intend to continue to observe how daily and seasonal changes in the Martian atmosphere affect sound.

Unboxholics

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