(Gases always expand when they're warm – the heat gives the gas energy to spread out more). The expanding gas blows up the balloon . When you put the bottle into cold water, the air cools down again. Cool air hasn't got as much energy, so it shrinks – and the balloon shrinks with it.
How long does it take to fill a hot air balloon with hot air?
How long does it take to inflate and deflate the balloon? A good ground crew can inflate and launch a balloon in fifteen minutes or less . It takes about the same amount of time to deflate and pack up the balloon after the flight.
Can you fill a balloon with hot air?
When you stretch the balloon over the opening of the bottle, all of the air is trapped inside. Putting the bottle in hot water causes the air molecules inside to heat up and begin taking up more space (thermal expansion), causing air to enter the balloon and inflate it.
Can heat inflate a balloon?
Air molecules collide into the balloon with the same energy inside and outside the balloon. When the bottle is heated, the air molecules inside start moving faster. These molecules now collide into the balloon with more energy resulting in increased pressure. The increased pressure causes the balloon to expand .
How safe are hot air balloons?
From a statistical point (The Aviation Accident Database), the FAA finds that hot air ballooning is the safest form of all air travel and rarely involved in aviation crashes . In fact, the FAA has found that you are more likely to be injured driving a car than flying in an airplane or hot air balloon!
How do you start blowing up a hot air balloon?
Once there is enough cold air in the balloon, the pilot will start to heat it with the burners . When the air inside the balloon starts to heat up, the balloon will start to rise up and this is where it is really important that the crown line is held firm so that it doesn't float off before the passengers can get in!
Why does the balloon inflate in hot water?
Explanation: The hot water causes the air inside the bottle and balloon to also heat up . The faster moving particles inside the bottle start to move faster and faster and soon they expand to fill the balloon.
How do you fill a balloon with hot air?
Instruct one or two crew member (s) to hold the mouth of the envelope open while another turns on the fan on . Direct the flow of the cold air into the bottom of the balloon. As the balloon fills with air, crew members will not have to hold the envelope open any more as the envelope will stay open on its own.
Why does the balloon start blowing up?
Gases expand rapidly because their particles move at high speeds in all directions . As the carbon dioxide gas fills the bottle, it has nowhere else to go so it begins to fill the balloon. As the carbon dioxide gas fills the balloon, the balloon inflates.
What can go wrong in a hot air balloon?
The greatest weather risks to ballooning include: The possibility of being becalmed over unfavorable landing sites. The risk of injury from a high wind landing . The risk of loss of control due to sudden gusts or wind shear. Sudden loss of visibility due to fog or precipitation.
Do you wear a parachute in a hot air balloon?
Hot air balloons don't carry parachutes because it isn't necessary . The balloon pilot will always ensure the burner system has the fuel for the trip.
Has anyone ever died in a hot air balloon?
Despite these regulations, hot air balloon accidents can and do happen. The National Transportation Safety Board began investigating hot air balloon accidents in 1964. Of the 775 reported accidents that have occurred since then, 70 have caused deaths of passengers. 16 of those deaths happened in the past 14 years.
Is there a weight limit for hot air balloons?
A hot air balloon weight limit is usually right around 1000 pounds . ... Depending on the type of ride you are taking and the rules of your hot air balloon pilot, you may be charged double if you are over 200 pounds.
How high can a hot air balloon go?
What is the maximum height a hot air balloon can reach? If you want to be exact, it is 68,986 feet or 21027 metres above sea level.
How hot is the air in a hot air balloon?
For typical atmospheric conditions (20 °C or 68 °F), a hot-air balloon heated to 99 °C (210 °F) requires about 3.91 m 3 of envelope volume to lift 1 kilogram (equivalently, 62.5 cu ft/lb).
How do you stretch a balloon over a bottle?
- Take a room-temperature balloon, and blow a breath of air into it. ...
- Blow a few more breaths into the balloon. ...
- Let the air escape from the balloon and take some deep breaths before continuing.
- Take a balloon out of the freezer and repeat the previous three steps with this balloon.
