<p>Would an "indoor" pool of water on the Moon or on Mars behave differently than on Earth?
Depends on what you are observing.</p>

<p>Would the waves caused by a splash be higher or lower? The waves would be higher.</p>

<p>Would they propagate faster or slower? They would propagate at the same rate.</p>

<p>Would boyance be different? No, because buoyancy depends on the displacement of mass.</p>

<p>what would it be like to shower in slowly falling water? How can anyone here answer this since only a few people (&lt;0.001%) have experienced this.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-08T03:27:26.640Z
See [this answer](http://space.stackexchange.com/a/6632/12102) which addresses the speed of the waves. [Gravity waves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_wave) at a fluid interface are not simple, and the speed depends on the amplitude and frequency except for very shallow pools.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-02T03:30:07.923Z
Has anyone showered in partial gravity??? Higher waves and same propagation speed, that means steeper waves, right?
LocalFluff
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-02T03:55:40.933Z
I would think that the astronauts showered when they were on the space station. Yes, the waves would be steeper, but remember that there is less gravity so it won't be better for surfing.
LDC3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-07T13:29:48.680Z
#RhysW I will need to research this. I will get to it after work.
LDC3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-08T01:15:44.877Z
@RhysW I couldn't find any supporting documents, but here is what I think. The waves are taller because there is less gravity. Less gravity means less force pulling on the waves, so they end up being taller. The waves propagate at the same rate because the speed and frequency of the wave is the same and is dependent on the density of the medium (like light waves going from air to water changes the speed, but not the frequency).
LDC3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-02T03:25:05.513Z
2014-04-02T03:25:05.513Z
LDC3
<p>With regard to buoyancy:  The buoyant force (in $\text{newtons}$) on a partially or totally submerged body depends on the volume of fluid displaced (in $\text{meters}^3$) , the density of the fluid (in $\text{kilograms}/\text{meter}^3$) , and the <strong><em>local acceleration of gravity</em></strong> (in $\text{meter}/\text{second}^2$).</p>

<p>Of course, the force of gravity on the object itself will depend on the local acceleration of gravity.  So:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>A substance that floats in a particular liquid on Earth will float in the same liquid on the moon, or Mars;</p></li>
<li><p>A substance that sinks in a particular liquid on Earth will sink in the same liquid on the moon, or Mars;</p></li>
<li><p>A body of some substance that floats immersed to a certain depth in some liquid on Earth will float at the same depth in that liquid on the moon or Mars.</p></li>
</ol>

<p><strong>BUT</strong></p>

<p>The external force needed to <strong>make</strong> an object submerge or <strong>keep</strong> it submerged will be less on the moon than on earth</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-02T23:16:11.177Z
2017-01-04T22:14:27.597Z
2017-01-04T22:14:27.597Z
DJohnM
<p>Would an "indoor" pool of water on the Moon or on Mars behave differently than on Earth? Would the waves caused by a splash be higher or lower? Would they propagate faster or slower? Would boyance be different? And what would it be like to shower in slowly falling water?</p>

<gravity><water>
How would water waves behave in partial gravity?
LocalFluff
# How would water waves behave in partial gravity?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-02)

Would an "indoor" pool of water on the Moon or on Mars behave differently than on Earth? Would the waves caused by a splash be higher or lower? Would they propagate faster or slower? Would boyance be different? And what would it be like to shower in slowly falling water?

**Tags:** gravity, water


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-04-02. Score: 2

Would an "indoor" pool of water on the Moon or on Mars behave differently than on Earth?
Depends on what you are observing.

Would the waves caused by a splash be higher or lower? The waves would be higher.

Would they propagate faster or slower? They would propagate at the same rate.

Would boyance be different? No, because buoyancy depends on the displacement of mass.

what would it be like to shower in slowly falling water? How can anyone here answer this since only a few people (<0.001%) have experienced this.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Has anyone showered in partial gravity??? Higher waves and same propagation speed, that means steeper waves, right?  
> **username_1**: I would think that the astronauts showered when they were on the space station. Yes, the waves would be steeper, but remember that there is less gravity so it won't be better for surfing.  
> **username_1**: #RhysW I will need to research this. I will get to it after work.  
> **username_1**: @RhysW I couldn't find any supporting documents, but here is what I think. The waves are taller because there is less gravity. Less gravity means less force pulling on the waves, so they end up being taller. The waves propagate at the same rate because the speed and frequency of the wave is the same and is dependent on the density of the medium (like light waves going from air to water changes the speed, but not the frequency).  
> **username_2**: See [this answer](http://space.stackexchange.com/a/6632/12102) which addresses the speed of the waves. [Gravity waves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_wave) at a fluid interface are not simple, and the speed depends on the amplitude and frequency except for very shallow pools.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2014-04-02. Score: 2

With regard to buoyancy: The buoyant force (in $\text{newtons}$) on a partially or totally submerged body depends on the volume of fluid displaced (in $\text{meters}^3$) , the density of the fluid (in $\text{kilograms}/\text{meter}^3$) , and the ***local acceleration of gravity*** (in $\text{meter}/\text{second}^2$).

Of course, the force of gravity on the object itself will depend on the local acceleration of gravity. So:

1. A substance that floats in a particular liquid on Earth will float in the same liquid on the moon, or Mars;
2. A substance that sinks in a particular liquid on Earth will sink in the same liquid on the moon, or Mars;
3. A body of some substance that floats immersed to a certain depth in some liquid on Earth will float at the same depth in that liquid on the moon or Mars.

**BUT**

The external force needed to **make** an object submerge or **keep** it submerged will be less on the moon than on earth


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