High Altitude Experiments

POSTER

Abstract

Carried by a weather balloon to 95,000 ft and back, our instruments recorded temperature, pressure, and acceleration. The acceleration data was collected to demonstrate the deviation from 9.8 m/s2 in Earth's gravity at high altitude. The change in acceleration due to gravity is expected to be about 0.02 m/s2. The Equivalence Principle of general relativity presents a challenge in measuring this quantity. There is no way to tell whether the accelerometer is measuring change in velocity or a gravitational field. Temperature and barometric pressure data were collected in order to study the thermodynamic properties of air. In addition, we calculated sound speed as a function of altitude based on this thermodynamic data, under the assumption of ideal gas behavior.

Authors

  • Seth Putterman

    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA, College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Colorado State University, University of Virginia, Auburn University, Northern Kentucky University, Utah Valley State College, Brigham Young University, Arizona State University, University of Amsterdam, New Mexico State university, University of Minesota, Pulse Field Facility, NHMFL, LANL, NM, Institute of Physics ASCR , Czech Republic, University of Minesota-Twin City, New Mexico State University, Director, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Lab, Australian Synchotron Source, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Lab, University of Arizona, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Wellesley College, Observatoire de Paris, France, Freie Universitat Berlin, Florida State Univ., Univ. Sci. Tech. China, Iowa State University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Mahabad Azad University, Carnegie Mellon University, Tempe Preparatory Academy, University of California, Los Angeles

  • Seth Putterman

    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA, College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Colorado State University, University of Virginia, Auburn University, Northern Kentucky University, Utah Valley State College, Brigham Young University, Arizona State University, University of Amsterdam, New Mexico State university, University of Minesota, Pulse Field Facility, NHMFL, LANL, NM, Institute of Physics ASCR , Czech Republic, University of Minesota-Twin City, New Mexico State University, Director, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Lab, Australian Synchotron Source, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Lab, University of Arizona, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Wellesley College, Observatoire de Paris, France, Freie Universitat Berlin, Florida State Univ., Univ. Sci. Tech. China, Iowa State University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Mahabad Azad University, Carnegie Mellon University, Tempe Preparatory Academy, University of California, Los Angeles