High Flying Physics

Eric Muhs and his physics students (Roosevelt HS, Seattle WA) constructed a portable cosmic ray detector and sent it 35 kilometers into the atmosphere, recreating Victor Hess’ Nobel Prize winning discovery of cosmic rays. The cosmic ray detector took two trips aboard a NASA high altitude balloon, along with a Temperature Probe, Magnetic Field Sensor, Barometer, and Relative Humidity Sensor. The data were recorded by a Vernier LabPro and transferred to a computer upon the balloon’s recovery. The entire C.H.E.S.S. (Cosmic ray High-altitude Experiment by Science Students) project is wonderfully documented on Eric’s web site, along with countless other creative ways to teach physics. More details.