Pre-Launch
We conducted a test on the Vernier equipment to find battery life in extreme cold as well as tested the accuracy of the temperature probe as the temperature becomes colder. To conduct this experiment we placed the Vernier equipment in dry ice positioned in an artic cooler. We also had a second Vernier device to act as a control. The battery in a Vernier device is a 5 volt direct current with 1500 mA. We used two measuring devices in the experiment to make the test closer to the amount of power consumption used in our launch. With those qualifications, the battery life was reduced by about 75 percent compared to the control Vernier device. If the test vernier equipment was removed and allowed to warm, the battery life would restore to approximately 75 percent of its charged state. One thing we discovered was that the device will store our sampling rate after power failure. Our sampling rate was for two hours and 1000 samples per second. The temperature in the dry ice was approximately -70 degrees Celsius which is much colder than when the atmosphere when we actually launce the balloon.
Our recommendation to counter the cold temperature is using hand warmers. We also recommend using a battery boost to increase the battery life in case the balloon is in the air longer than expected. We recommend acquiring a Vernier Battery Boost since it has 3000 mA and 5 volts direct current since because it is a Vernier device so it is compatible with the Vernier LabQuest equipment.
Post-Launch
After the launch we found that we needed much more room for error with the sampling rate and time. We put the device to about 1.4 samples per second for 3 hours but our flight lasted for 4.5 hours. Despite the miscalculated time for the sampling rate, the device worked very well. The devices we used were a temperature probe, a humidity probe, and a pressure probe. It gave us accurate measurements throughout the time it was in the air.
We recommend that in the next launch the sample rate should be set to last for at least 8 hours, well within the range of error, and a sample rate per second that will fit within the timeline. Attempt for 1 sample per second if possible. We recommend 4Gb of memory which will meet the memory requirement and make it less of a problem.
Launch one Data in graphical format
File:Physics 203 Balloon Launch Graphs 5-16-2011-1.pdf
View caption for details.
After the 5-28-2011 launch it has become apparent that if you are using the vernier equipment it may be beneficial to have two are three charged unites at the time of the launch. This is due to the occurrence of the sensors not being read by the vernier control module. At the time of launch two of the four sensors where not being recognized off and on, this was corrected by retrieving another module.