NO. 2 



METHOD OF REACHING EXTREME ALTITUDES 



27 



the experiments, the paper was cut i the way across in two places be- 

 fore bejng used, as shown by the dotted lines h in figure 5(a) . Since 

 the tissue paper has very little mass, the tearing depends simply upon 

 the magnitude of the force that is momentarily applied, and not 

 upon the force times its duration — i. e., the impulse of the force. The 



Fig. 5. 



tissue paper will tear, then, if the force produced by the first upward 

 rush of gas, past the chamber into the space in the 3-inch pipe above 

 the chamber, exceeds a certain value. This first upward rush of gas 

 will, of course, produce a greater force than any subsequent rush, 

 as the gas is continually losing velocity. Even though the magnitude 

 of the force that will just tear the tissue paper be not known, it may 



