How to build a hot air balloon
HOT AIR! Design + build + fly a hot-air balloon to lift a weight.
COLLECT
- poster board (1 sheet)
- tissue paper (10-12 sheets)
- glue stick
- scissors
- ruler
- piece of wire to shape into a ring
- string
- hair dryer
The better designed the balloon is, the more weight it will be able to lift.
Why do hot air balloons rise up? Hot air balloons rise because they are filled with air hotter than the air around them, and hot air is lighter than cold air. Why is hot air lighter than cold air? When a material is heated, its molecules absorb the heat or energy and with this extra energy are able to move around at greater speeds.
In objects that can stretch and expand, molecules with extra energy can move farther apart. When the molecules move, the object grows in size or volume. It doesn't change in weight, though, because the number of molecules doesn't change. It is made of the same number of molecules, just located farther apart. This makes the object less dense, but maintains its weight.
When we start heating the air of a hot air balloon, the air molecules start moving around with more energy. As the hotter air expands, the balloon expands, but its weight does not change right away.
Once the balloon has expanded as far as it can, then the energetic molecules start escaping out of the hole at the bottom. This leaves less molecules inside, making the balloon lighter than the cooler air around it. The balloon rises.
Why do hot air balloons rise up? Hot air balloons rise because they are filled with air hotter than the air around them, and hot air is lighter than cold air. Why is hot air lighter than cold air? When a material is heated, its molecules absorb the heat or energy and with this extra energy are able to move around at greater speeds.
In objects that can stretch and expand, molecules with extra energy can move farther apart. When the molecules move, the object grows in size or volume. It doesn't change in weight, though, because the number of molecules doesn't change. It is made of the same number of molecules, just located farther apart. This makes the object less dense, but maintains its weight.
When we start heating the air of a hot air balloon, the air molecules start moving around with more energy. As the hotter air expands, the balloon expands, but its weight does not change right away.
Once the balloon has expanded as far as it can, then the energetic molecules start escaping out of the hole at the bottom. This leaves less molecules inside, making the balloon lighter than the cooler air around it. The balloon rises.
Experiment
1. Draw and cut a template for the hot air balloon side panels out of the poster board. You will use this to make tissue paper cutouts of the same size. Draw the typical shape you see in modern balloons or try creating new shapes you would like to test.
2. Using your template, cut 8 tissue paper side panels.
3. Glue the panels together into a balloon shape.
4. Cut out a circular piece of tissue paper to cover the top of the hot air balloon and glue it on.
5. Cut some wire coil and shape into a circle.
6. Place the coil at the bottom of the balloon, fold over the tissue paper over it, covering it, and glue it in place.
7. Make a basket out of the poster board and attach it with string or tape to this coil ring, and place a weight in the basket.
8. Heat up the balloon with the hair dryer, let it go and watch it rise!
Source: http://curiositymachine.org/node/68
2. Using your template, cut 8 tissue paper side panels.
3. Glue the panels together into a balloon shape.
4. Cut out a circular piece of tissue paper to cover the top of the hot air balloon and glue it on.
5. Cut some wire coil and shape into a circle.
6. Place the coil at the bottom of the balloon, fold over the tissue paper over it, covering it, and glue it in place.
7. Make a basket out of the poster board and attach it with string or tape to this coil ring, and place a weight in the basket.
8. Heat up the balloon with the hair dryer, let it go and watch it rise!
Source: http://curiositymachine.org/node/68
I hope more users will get the information that i receive from you.!
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