Wondering how many Earths can fit inside Mars? In this article, we break down the size comparison between Earth and Mars, exploring the fascinating physics behind how many of our planet’s volumes could fit on the Red Planet.
Mars seems a neighbor close to Earth in the depths of the universe. Nevertheless, Mars’s size and volume are incomparable to Earth’s. But how many Earths would fit within Mars? It may sound like a straightforward question to answer, but the answer leads to a vast realm of planetary science. When drawing a comparison between the two on the basis of volume and mass, we fall under the spell of their very fascinating differences. Let us first dive deep into the numbers before we know the true link between Mars and Earth.
Earth vs Mars: Size Comparison
Earth and Mars are often thought of as immediate neighbors in space, orbiting the Sun in a neighborhood on the fringe of our solar system. The first surprising thing we learn about Earth and Mars is that their sizes differ considerably. Earth has an amazing diameter of around 12,742 kilometers. However, Mars measures just 6,779 kilometers around – so Mars is only about half the diameter of Earth.
It’s not only their diameters that differ; Earth is also much more massive than Mars. The volume of this planet is about 1 trillion cubic kilometers, while the volume of Mars is only 163 billion cubic kilometers-around 16 percent of the volume of Earth.
Because of this, Earth has much stronger gravity as compared to Mars. It is this gravity, which keeps the atmosphere attached to the planet as well as for enabling it to live. Mars, on the other hand, has gravity that is only 38% of that on Earth so doesn’t really retain its atmosphere well and, by the same token, life the way we know it is not possible on its surface at the present time.
The Mathematics Behind the Number of Earths that Can Fit in Mars
So how do we actually fit all those Earths inside Mars? Now that much is volume. To compare them, we need a very simple mathematical expression for calculating the volume of a sphere:
V=4/3πr3
Where “r” stands for the radius of the planet, which is half the diameter.
Let’s take this logic through: The radius of the earth is 6,371 km, and the radius of Mars is 3,396 km. Putting this into the formula gives Earth a volume of one trillion cubic kilometers and Mars a volume of 163 billion cubic kilometers. So, if we divide it down, we can see that Mars would hold about 0.15 of an Earth. In other words, then, it would take six Mars-sized planets to equal the volume of just one Earth.
The Surprising Result is: How Many Earths Can Fit Inside Mars?
Putting it very simply: about 6 Earths could fit inside Mars when considering the volume, though that doesn’t mean you could literally stack Earths inside Mars. It helps to get a feeling for how much smaller Mars is from Earth. Mars is indeed one of the largest planets in the inner solar system (next to Earth), yet compared to our home planet, it shrinks drastically.
By way of perspective, Jupiter, the behemoth of the solar system, could swallow more than 1,300 Earths! Now when you look at Mars in that context, it clears the picture about its dimensions: while Mars may be our neighbor, it remains much, much smaller. This kind of comparison not only brings to light the physical differences but also shows how these differences affect the possibilities of exploring Mars or habitation on that planet in future.
The Smaller Size of Mars When Compared to Earth
Why then Mars is much smaller than Earth? It is mostly all about diversity of a few factors that have shaped the history of the planet. The first of these factors is distance from the Sun; Mars is farther than Earth, and that probably has something to do with how it grew.
Whereas Earth was able to secure and then maintain the atmosphere, letting heavy rains turn liquid below them, smaller and much weaker gravity—Mars—was the main reason for the gradual depletion of its atmosphere. That is one of the main reasons it became a cold, dry world.
Another important factor is the other pair of different cores of each planet. The large, active iron core of Earth produces a very strong magnetic field, which protects the atmosphere created on Earth so that life could flourish. Mars, on the other hand, has a very small core and failed to produce a strong magnetic field, making it more prone to the effects of solar radiation and loss of its atmosphere.
So all of these may suggest that conditions suitable for the Earth to grow big enough and support life were quite different than those for Mars. It just gets a lesson that create differences, not everything is size, but location, materials, and history are counted a lot too.
Implications for Space Travel and Colonization
What are the implications of Mars being smaller than Earth, especially with respect to future dreams of exploration and even colony establishment? First, it will complicate the sense of gravity because Mars has weaker gravity, which means astronauts must adapt their movement and modes of existence to that planet.
Humans would have the experience of 38% of Earth gravity, which works against them in some ways: less stress on muscle and bones would mean fewer demands on health in maintaining the balance of fluids in the body for more extended periods.
Mars’ diminutive stature makes it also a far more manageable target for the space agencies. Mars, though very much less accessible from Earth, is far more possible for mission planning. Human habitation on Mars is still hypothetical despite challenges presented by the cold distances and surface conditions.
Gravity adds another obstacle, but it is not an all-or-nothing. One could visualize habitats and the use of artificial gravity for long stays. It would be considerable work, but Mars’ lesser size could very well render it a little easier to travel, land, and eventually live on.
CONCLUSION
So what’s there to glean? Mars may seem somewhat closer to Earth, but it is so much smaller than we really think. Its volume is just about 15% compared to Earth’s. But still, however little or much, it does stand quite different from our own home. So, Mars obviously has so much potential in terms of space exploration. With this, Mars is the nearest planet from us and somehow shines out with some features that resemble Earth. It has also its resources that can one day help mankind surpass and thrive outside their own world.
No matter if it is for the sake of science or exploration or even in the hope of someday colonizing Mars, it becomes all the more important to know about the size of Mars and its comparison with Earth, as such would equip us with invaluable insights into the dilemmas we would face as we look to the Red Planet for our next big adventure. Are you ready to jump? The journey to Mars may actually be closer than one thinks.
FAQ’s
In what terms is Mars smaller compared to Earth?
Mars is definitely the lesser one compared to Earth. You see, Earth does boast of a diameter of 12,742 kilometers, while that of Mars is just a 6,779-kilometer diameter, nearly half of an Earth dimension. Apart from its lesser size, Mars has only about 16 percent of Earth volume, and this adds to its lesser heft. Gravity on Mars is lighter at about 38% of Earth’s because of this and the ability to retain atmosphere, which would thus be life-as-we-know-it impossible on the planet.
Earth can fit inside Mars?
Mathematically, about six earths could fit into the volume of mars. But literally, earth cannot be stacked up inside mars. Mars roughly has 0.15 of the total volume from Earth if one calculates their total volumes. Theoretical, it needs six mars-sized planets to have the volume equal to just one earth. This is quite a revelation that puts things into perspective regarding how much smaller Mars is than our Earth.
Why is Mars smaller than Earth?
There are many reasons for which Mars is smaller than Earth. One main reason is its distance from the Sun. Due to this, Mars could not retain its atmosphere like Earth, partly due to its weaker gravity as well. Earth, owing to its larger core, has generated a strong magnetic field protecting its atmosphere in such a way that it retained liquid water and life.
Mars, on the other hand, has a less robust core and does not have a strong magnetic field, so their atmospheric losses occur over time. Due to all the differences in their formation and conditions, Mars became a much colder, drier world.
What problems would we encounter with a colonized Mars, because it is smaller than Earth?
The size of Mars offers a few challenges to colonization, which have primarily to do with its diminished gravity. Affected would be astronauts present on Mars, for they would have to grapple with only 38% of Earth’s gravity. This has implications on long-term health and even mobility. Poor atmospheric density and low temperatures make it incredibly tough to survive practically without advanced and complex technology.
However, the downside is compensated for with a smaller planet by making things easier for exploration and future colonization endeavors. Even as small as it might be and as harsh as its conditions can be, it might still be possible to create a self-sufficient environment for human life on Mars, using artificial gravity systems and habitats.
