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Two Lab Activities Demonstrating Some Physics of High Altitude Balloon Launches

Authors
  • Seiji Takemae (University of Minnesota, Morris)
  • Gordon McIntosh (University of Minnesota, Morris)

Abstract

We present two lab activities that involve similar physics to that of high altitude balloon flights. One lab involves a descending helium-filled balloon and the other involves a descending parachute. In both of these activities, the descending object is subject to a sum of forces in the vertical direction. Forces involved include the velocity-dependent drag force, which varies with time and thereby makes theoretical predictions of both our lab activities nontrivial. The aim of both lab activities is to measure and model the time of descent for the falling body.

How to Cite:

Takemae, S. & McIntosh, G., (2022) “Two Lab Activities Demonstrating Some Physics of High Altitude Balloon Launches”, Journal of High Altitude Ballooning 2(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/jhab.18036

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Published on
2022-06-01

Peer Reviewed

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