At what maximum altitude would it be still possible to play the harmonica?

Answer 1

Anywhere there is barometric pressure you can make sound. People in the space shuttle can play the harmonica because we have manufactured a pressurized environment for them so they can breathe.

The question is more interesting if our harmonica player is making his attempt without the artificial assitance of a plane or shuttle. As one gains altitude, there is a drop in the barometric pressure with a corresponding drop in the oxygen pressure. In general one would say that eventually sound waves do not occur as you reach the void of space. At an altitude of 3,000 meters (9,840 feet), commonly an altitude encountered at ski resorts, the barometric pressure and the inspired oxygen pressure are 70% that noted at sea level. At 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) the inspired oxygen pressure is 50% that at sea level. On the summit of Mt. Everest 8,848 meters (29,021 feet) the inspired oxygen is 29% that at sea level.

Different people can endure this change in Oxygen pressure at different rates. This is because people who are habituated to higher elevation have developed more red blood cells (RBC's) to carry more Oxygen. A guy who lives at sea level has fewer RBC's. The guy from sea level could still blow a harmonica at 30,000 feet as there is still barometric pressure that carries the sound. He would also be slowly dying from insufficent oxygen.

So...our dying man could go higher and higher. His ability to produce sound decreaseing as his ability to make waves in barometric pressure decreased (sound waves). He could theoretically make some miniscule sound in space with his last breath if you accept the premise that there is some miniscule pressure in space. I would argue that if our man could blow out sound from the harmonica would exist in theory. It would be so miniscule you could not begin to measure it.

I would be interested to read if someone knows enough physics to know if pressure in the void of space ever reaches absolute zero. I expect that many people would answer yes without really knowing if they are right.

Answer 2

If you can blow, you can play the harmonica. Even if you were miles and miles up in space, took in a deep breath, opened your helmet and - before you passed out - blew into the harmonica, you could do it. Of course, in space it wouldn't make any sound that would travel - only you would hear it, and even then only from the vibrations through your own head. And you do risk dying without your helmet on (I suppose if you closed it quick enough you'd be ok.)

So - bottom line - any altitude.

Answer 3

today's airliners can climb to atleast 43000MSL but maintain around a 9000MSL atmosphere in the cabin, so I would have to say 43000MSL for normal people, I just think the other passengers would set the restrictions on playing a the harmonica for any length of time

Answer 4

Wrong question. Pressurized environments= unlimited. What is the lowest atmospheric pressure to enable harmonica playing.

Answer 5

At an altitude where the oxygen drops below 19.5% .if it gets below that u will be unconscious.