Ask Ethan: What Is The Science Behind Wearing A Mask?
At a very simple level, it’s nothing but physics. Here’s why you should care.
It’s not very often that a physics problem becomes a politicized issue, but that’s exactly what’s happened when it comes to the science of wearing a mask during the current coronavirus pandemic. Viruses are tiny particles; if you’re infected, they exist within your body. Every time you breathe out, speak, sing, sneeze, cough, or otherwise exhale, some of those particles can escape along with the droplets that leave your body. A mask serves as a barrier, capturing a fraction of those droplets, while slowing the motion of the remaining ones that get through. But how effective are they, and what’s the full science behind them? That’s what Patreon supporter Josiah Wolf wants to know, asking:
I’d love for you to really break down mask science. How effective they are from bandanas through proper respirators. How particles are slowed down and can’t travel as far and how [viruses] and bacteria attach to moisture particles. What really happens to the stuff that comes out of your mouth with and without a mask? There is so much controversy and misinformation on social media.
There sure is. Let’s break it down.
