How Does the Speed of Sound Vary with Altitude?

Each group needs:

• poster paper (for graphing)
• colored markers
• rulers
• calculator
• laptop or computers with internet and access to NASA website: https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/VirtualAero/BottleRocket/airplane/sound.html

To share with the entire class:

• data sheets from the 2019 LIFT PROJECT balloon launch (students calculate the theoretical speed of sound) for altitudes of 0-27 km:
• • Air Pressure Data Sheet (PDF)
  • Humidity Data Sheet (PDF)
  • Temperature Data Sheet (PDF)
  • Speed of Sound Data Sheet (PDF)
  • For time management, each group could graph one relationship (such as speed of sound vs. air pressure, etc.) and then take on other graphing relationships if time permits
• photos / data plots
• • Air Pressure Data Sheet Plot
  • Humidity Data Sheet Plot
  • Temperature Data Sheet Plot
  • Speed of Sound Data Sheet Plot
• video: 2019 LIFT Project - Speed Of Sound: https://youtu.be/ZO-8rdrp348 (5:15)