What makes a hot air balloon fly? - ProProfs Discuss
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What makes a hot air balloon fly?

What makes a hot air balloon fly?

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Asked by F.William, Last updated: Feb 28, 2024

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6 Answers

D. Nichols

D. Nichols

D. Nichols
D. Nichols

Answered Feb 09, 2021

As the name implies, hot air balloons fly because of hot air. When the hot air rises, the cold air sinks, this then will bring a balance to the floating balloon. A hot air balloon is lighter than an air aircraft envelop. The idea of the hot air balloon started originated from the sky lantern tradition. The first air balloon was developed by the French brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques Etienne Montgolfier.

They developed the hot air balloon in Annonay, Ardeche, France. It was published on September 19, 1783. The first flight lasted for about 10 minutes. The modern hot air balloons that are flown now were developed by Ed Yost in the 1950s. The first flight took off on October 22, 1960.

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A. Samuel

A. Samuel

Writing quality content for contentment has been my passion since i was 21. I've been pursuing it as a Content Manager and Producer.

A. Samuel
A. Samuel, Content Manager, Masters in Marketing and accounting, Florida

Answered Feb 04, 2021

The hot air balloon is able to fly because of something that is simple. It is able to rise with the help of hot air. When hot air allows the balloon to rise up in the sky, it leaves behind cold air that will normally sink. This explains why when the hot air balloon already needs to go down; the hot air will slowly be lessened so that it can also land safely.

The hot air inside the hot air balloon will weigh less as compared to the air that can be found on the outside, which is why the hot air will cause the balloon to float upwards. Take note that the hot air balloon will only start to rise up when the hot air inside the balloon is already hot enough.

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J. Pollock

J. Pollock

J. Pollock
J. Pollock, Science Professor, Los Angeles

Answered Feb 01, 2021

As the name suggests, hot air is what allows a hot air balloon to fly. Air itself is a gas. So, when the air is heated, the air molecules are expanded. This allows the air molecules to be lighter than the air that the outside of the balloon has.

If you happen to be flying a hot air balloon, you may help it rise by adding more hot air to the balloon. To land the balloon, you would begin letting the air out so the balloon's temperature will cool. If the balloon runs out of hot air, then the balloon will fall to the ground and not be able to fly.

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F. Daniel

F. Daniel

I work for a California based MNC.

F. Daniel
F. Daniel, Content Optimization Executive, Diploma in Journalism, California

Answered Jan 20, 2021

A lot of people are fascinated with hot air balloons and they dream about seeing a few in person. Some would like to ride it and they can especially when the pandemic is over. From the name itself, you can already guess that it will rise with the use of hot air.

Basically, the hot air will start to rise up which will also cause the balloon to have enough air to float. Cold air will be used in order to sink the balloon. As long as there is the perfect balance of hot air with the cold air so that the hot air balloon can fly a certain amount of height, then that will already be effective in making the balloon float properly.

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T. Moore

T. Moore

Have keen interest in writing, traveller by heart.

T. Moore
T. Moore, Writer, MA, Washington

Answered Oct 31, 2018

This is simple. A basket hanging below the balloon safely holds passengers and also the flame that sends heat into the empty balloor. Heat rises, and so does a hot balloon. Usually gas is used for this.

The size of the flame and intensity of heat determines how high the balloon will fly. The material used for such balloon must obviously be inflammable!

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M. Wright

M. Wright

M. Wright
M. Wright

Answered May 23, 2018

Hot air makes a balloon fly. The air is heated with a propane heater similar to how you might heat your outdoor barbeque grill. The balloon stays afloat because air is a gas and when it is heated, the molecules in the air expand and become less dense or lighter than the air outside the balloon.

A person piloting a hot air balloon can control the rise of the balloon by adding more hot air and the fall of the balloon and the landing by letting the air inside the balloon cool down. The rest of time pilots maneuver horizontally by changing their altitude to ride with the wind, since wind blows in different directions at different altitudes.

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