Name_____________________Date__________Period______
Virtual Weather Balloon Lab Simulation
Please go to the following website:
http://wikifuller.wikispaces.com/
Introduction: Today you are going to study the Earth’s atmosphere using a weather balloon.
Of coarse we don’t have the time or money to really go outside and make measurements;
therefore, we will be doing this activity in the computer lab. You have been assigned a job by
the head scientist: Measure temperature and pressure and ozone readings as the hot air
balloon rises. This lesson has three main objectives.
Purpose:
 Students know the thermal structure and chemical composition of the
atmosphere
 Students know the location of the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere
Procedure:
1. Be careful, Do not close the activity window when you check back to this page, or else you
will have to start the measuring and questions all over again. It is O.K. to close the activity
window when you are done with the balloon activity.
2. You can refer back to the instructions page if you need to know what to do next. Or check
the "Now What?" button in the activity.
3. You will take pressure measurements every two feet. You do this by making sure on the
control panel that the measurement device in the lower right hand corner is set on "pressure".
The altitude is displayed in yellow letters in the control panel. As you do this, record your
pressure data in the table so you can graph it.
4. Go as high off the ground as you can when collecting data. Remember, this is for science!
5. You should be recording your data, but, when you are done collecting your measurements,
you can view your data by clicking on the view data box, and this will bring up your data. If
you would like to see a plot of your data visually on a graph, you can then have the computer
plot your data.
6. Once you are done gathering data for atmospheric pressure, collect data for temperature
and ozone as well. You get to the next section by clicking on the ">" button in the low right
corner of the control panel. This will bring up a message telling you to collect data for
temperature.
7. Graph all data for all three graphs!!!!!!!!!
Altitude
Pressure (mb)
Quiz Questions: Circle the correct response 1) A or B ? 2) A or B ?
3) A B C or D ?
4) A B or C ?
5) A or B ?
6) A or B ?
7) Type in the correct response 8) Type in the correct response
9) A B or C ? 10) A B or C ?
Conclusion Questions: Answer in complete sentences!!!
1. After you graphed your data, which layer had the highest air
pressure????
2. Looking at your graph, did air pressure increase or decrease with
height???? Explain:
3. Why did the balloon pop???
4. What do you think would happen if humans were dragged from the
surface of the earth to an altitude of 80 kilometers with no protection????
Pressure
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When you’re finished, click on
“view data” then click on “plot”
to view altitude graph
Now graph your own
data!!!!!!!!!!
Altitude
Quiz Questions: Circle the correct response 1) A or B ?
2) A B or C ?
3) Type in the correct response 4) A B or
C?
5) A B or C ? 6) A B or C ?
Conclusion Questions: Answer in complete sentences:
1. After you graphed your data, how did temperature behave in
the troposphere???? Did it increase or decrease with height????
Explain:
2. After you graphed your data, how did temperature behave in
the Stratosphere???? Did it increase or decrease with
height???? Explain:
3. After you graphed your data, how did temperature behave in
the Mesosphere???? Did it increase or decrease with
height???? Explain:
4. What does the temperature do at each boundary between
Layers? Explain:
Temperature
(Co)
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When you’re finished, click on “view data”
then click on “plot” to view temperature graph
Now graph your own data!!!!!!!!!!
Altitude
Quiz Questions: Circle or type in the correct response
1) Type in the correct response 2) A B or C ?
Conclusion Questions: Answer in complete sentences!
1. What altitude had the highest ozone concentration???
2. What layer of our atmosphere is the ozone layer in????
3. What does our ozone layer protect us from?????
4. What layer of our atmosphere did we not study????
Ozone (ppm)
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When you’re finished, click on “view data”
then click on “plot” to view temperature graph
Now graph your own data!!!!!!!!!!