4 ms·
Interesting note about this: the speed of sound on Mars is only ~70% of that on Earth, due to less atmospheric density. Might change your Mach numbers!
by skovati 3y ago
Interesting note about this: the speed of sound on Mars is only ~70% of that on Earth, due to less atmospheric density. Might change your Mach numbers!
- Metacelsus 3y agoIt's not due to less density, but rather a different gas composition (CO2 vs. N2+O2).
- algas 3y agoLet's run the numbers! The speed of sound in an ideal (calorically perfect) gas is given by a = sqrt( gamma * R * T ) where gamma is the ratio of specific heats (thermodynamic property of a gas, which may vary with temperature), R is the individual gas constant, and T the temperature of the fluid. All of these are going to be different on Mars versus on Earth: Earth: R = R_atm = 287 J / (kg * K) gamma = 1.44 T = 293 K (taking room temperature as an average temperature) Mars: R = R_CO2 = 188 J / (kg * K) gamma = 1.37 T = 210 K (from a quick google, about -60 deg C) If the Martian and Earth atmospheres were at the same temperature, then the speed of sound on Mars would be 80% that of the speed of sound on Earth. Given the temperature difference, the speeds of sound are a_mars = 232 m/s a_earth = 347 m/s So yes, much of the difference is due to the composition: the Martian atmosphere has a higher atomic weight, which leads to a lower individual gas constant, and decreases the speed of sound. However, a substantial amount of the difference is simply due to the different temperatures on the surfaces of the two planets.
- jessriedel 3y agoI included it