The Weather Balloon Report

By Mr. Jacala
On May 13, while many people celebrated Mother’s Day, Mr. Parsons, Mr. Jacala, and a group of ten fifth grade boys set out on a mission to better understand the weather patterns of our Mother Earth.

Accompanied by parents Grace B., Guillaume B., Deirdre M., Jason R., and James W., the boys journeyed to Paxinos, Pennsylvania, where they inflated a weather balloon with 115 cubic feet of helium, giving the balloon roughly 1100g of positive lift.  With a swift ten-second countdown, the boys released the balloon, carrying with it sensors used to measure and record wind speed (anemometer), UV light presence, and magnetic field presence. There was also a GoPro on board.
 
The chase was on.  The group quickly packed up their equipment and began to follow the balloon using two tracking devices that were also equipped to the payload.  Roughly 125 miles away and two and a half hours later, the trackers reported that the payload had landed in Stockton, New Jersey.  After asking permission to enter a private plot of land, the group set out on a search for the payload, ultimately found in a field of tall grass by Mr. Parsons.  The group returned home feeling successful and satisfied after an exciting launch and landing.
Back