Establishing a permanent research base on Mars can be a first step toward determining the possibility of future large-scale human settlements there.
In Mars City — Balloon Physics Challenge, students use various tools to learn more about Mars. Among those tools will be unmanned balloons.
In “Task 1 — Balloon Physics,” students learn about research balloons, why balloons fly, and how they are designed. Each team’s objective is to design, construct, and fly a research balloon on Mars. To help achieve this objective, students use the Balloon Physics Apps to learn more about the physics of balloon flight, the components of a typical research balloon on Earth, and how best to launch and fly a balloon on Mars.
Physics Lab Simulations
Vision Science Lab Simulations
  Earth Balloon Lifting Gas Calculate the radius, volume, and weight of a sphere of a selected mass of air, hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, or methane on Earth at sea level temperature and pressure. |
 Earth Balloon Envelope Calculate the volume of a balloon and the mass and weight of the balloon envelope for selected balloon radii, envelope materials, and envelope material thicknesses. |
 Hot Air Balloon Lifting Gas Calculate the volume, mass, weight, and buoyant force for a sphere of air on Earth at sea level temperature and pressure for selected radii and selected temperatures equal to or greater than ambient temperature. |
 Mars Balloon Lifting Gas Calculate the volume, mass, and weight of a sphere of hydrogen, helium, or Martian atmospheric gas of a selected radius at conditions of temperature and pressure associated with the mean Martian surface elevation. |
 Mars Balloon Envelope For a balloon envelope constructed of layers of Mylar, Kevlar scrim, and low-density polyethylene, calculate the volume of the balloon, and the mass and weight of the balloon envelope for selected balloon radii and envelope material thicknesses. |
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Mars City — Balloon Physics Challenge™ | Copyright © 2011 Total Learning Research Institute, Inc.™ | All rights reserved.