Chris and Jim CIM ➜ Blog ➜ Adding Math and Science to your sTEm Project

Adding Math and Science to your sTEm Project

welcome NYSMTP! The STEM based projects & activities below can be found on this website. These activities are ones that can be done in a classroom, and may actually be applicable without the lean towards manufacturing. However, feel free to brows through and see what can be done if you want to work it into an engineering or technology based setting.

Overview of HAB Project:

One of the most exciting projects, according to all of my former students, was the HAB, or High Altitude Balloon Project done in my Engineering Design & Development class. Looking back on it, it was one of the biggest challenges my students ever faced with the highest risk of failure as well, but with risk, comes reward. The view of the curvature of the earth on video was absolutely stunning!

Also in retrospect, this project required my students to apply more math and science concepts than any other as well.

Math: One former student developed an equation to determine accurately how much helium to put in the balloon. This equation is used widely in HAB projects worldwide.
Earth Science: Tracking teams had to analyze weather data and other factors to determine where it would land: http://predict.habhub.org/
Physics: Students had to determine forces on all parts to determine failure points in the project.
Thermodynamics: Batteries do not work in low temps… how do you power it?
Fluid Dynamics: How does temperature affect the size of the balloon? Elevation? What makes it go higher?

HAB Explanation Video

Sample Data

Below is some sample data from our flight:

DATA	Metric	Standard
Ascent Rate	5.52 m/sec	18.1102 Ft/sec	12.3 mph
Burst Altitude	29,706 Meters	97460 feet	18.45 miles
Descent Rate	6.15 m/sec	20.177 ft/sec	13.75 mph
Payload Mass	1542.2 g	3.39 lbs
Balloon Mass	1000 g	2.204 lbs
Neck Lift	3308 g	7.292 lbs	http://predict.habhub.org/
Launch Volume	_____ m3	105-115 cu ft	From PM spreadsheet
Launch Circumference		18.68ft	Radius = 2.97 ft
Frequency:	144.390MHz
Lat/Long Launch	43.067 -775156		PM HS
Launch Time	9:18:30	May 21 2014
Landing	42°34.12’N 76° 58.57’W	42.588860, -76.972154 Milo NY
Landing Time	12:52:48