Before we begin, let’s back up a bit. While some were enjoying their holidays in February 2021, Mars received a visit from Perseverance: the most sophisticated instrument National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) American has sent to the red planet. This name embodies the passion of NASA and its ability to take on new challenges.
But what is the mission of Perseverance? Collect carefully selected rock and sediment samples. This way they are documented for future return to Earth. The Perseverance robot is also looking for signs of ancient microbial life.
In addition, he is able to characterize the geology and climate of Mars. Nevertheless, its primary role is to pave the way for human exploration beyond the Moon. And Perseverance was not alone, as it carried a helicopter called Ingenuity. It is the first aircraft to attempt controlled, powered flight from another planet.
It should be noted that before Perseverance landed, the acoustic environment on Mars was completely unknown. But a few weeks ago, research related to NASA’s acoustic recording of this planet was published in the journal Nature. This capture was obtained thanks to the microphones of Perseverance.
The first characterization of the acoustic environment of Mars, whose fluctuations are between 20 Hz and 50 Hz, was presented. To better understand, we will consider the speed of sound. On Earth, this variable is 343 m/s (meters per second). On Mars, sound travels at about 240 m/s and 250 m/s.
The speed of sound on Mars is slower than on Earth because carbon dioxide predominates in its atmosphere.
What does that mean ? On our planet, the clarity of sound decreases after traveling 65 meters. If we were on Mars, 8 meters away, you wouldn’t hear a thing. Above all, high-pitched sounds are completely lost at this distance.
This is a unique feature of the atmosphere that is dominated by carbon dioxide under certain conditions. The results presented establish a basic truth for the modeling of acoustic processes. An essential element for the study of other atmospheres, such as those of Venus and Mars.
Importance of atmosphere in sound
First of all, you should know that sound is energy that travels in the form of waves and which needs a medium to propagate. Therefore, sound in a vacuum does not exist. But what if there is gas?
Then we hear it! Because the gases present in the Earth’s atmosphere allow sound to materialize. Thanks to this, we can hear musical instruments, laughter, the chirping of birds and our favorite music. Without the atmosphere, this world would be a completely silent place.
Want to know what the atmosphere of Mars looks like? According to NASA studies, it is very fine and consists mainly of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and argon. In these conditions, we would see the sky blurred and red because of the dust in suspension.
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