Up, Up, and Away
Sevy Burkart
5th Grade
Mrs. Locke
May 24TH 2013
Table of Contents
Purpose ......................................................................................................................................................... 2
Experimental Method ................................................................................................................................... 3
Outline .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Background Information ............................................................................................................................... 5
Results ........................................................................................................................................................... 8
Biblical Application........................................................................................................................................ 9
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 10
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................ 11
1
Purpose
Up, Up, and Away
Research Question: At what temperature/time will Hot Air Balloon rise to 20 feet fastest?
Hypothesis: The hot air balloon will rise faster at cold/morning.
2
Experimental Method
Controls/Variables
Variables
Temperature/Time of Day
Controls
Length of string
Wind speed and direction
Hot Air Balloon
Weather Conditions
Materials
9 Mini Hot Air Balloons
100ft. string
U-Shaped string securer
Lighter
Timer
Fire extinguisher
Procedure
1. Go to a non-flammable area for a good launch (bring fire extinguisher in case of
fire).
2. Cut a 20 foot string.
3. Tether one side to the u-shaped securer and one to the hot air balloon.
4. Light the hot air balloon and let it go from the ground and start the timer.
5. When the string has tension and is pulled tight stop the timer.
6. Began the descent.
7. Repeat this 3x at different times
3
Outline
I.
Introduction
A.
II.
III.
IV.
Hot Air Balloon History and Facts
A.
Inventing hot air balloons
B.
Amazing flights
C.
Hot air balloon facts
Air Physics
A.
Volume of air
B.
Weight of air
Parts and Operating Systems of Hot Air Balloons
A.
V.
Hot air balloons are very interesting and what effects them.
Parts of hot air balloons and how to operate them
Conclusion
A.
Hot air balloons will start cleaner better ways of travel
4
Background Information
Hot air balloons fly high above our heads, but what effects there ascend rate. On this
report I will explain there facts and history, the physics which play a big part, how they fly and
there operating systems, and how they will make travel cleaner. These facts all play important
parts in the hot air balloon’s flight. These machines have come a ways even if it does not look
like it. Hot air balloons are so interesting and what effects them.
Hot air balloon history and facts. In 1783 French Brothers Joseph Montgolfier and
Jacques Montgolfier made the first Hot air balloon. These brothers got their idea from seeing a
shirt rise above a fire. They began making a hot air balloon out of light cloth. The first
passengers above in a hot air balloon where a rooster, sheep, and a duck. This flight covered
more the 1.5 miles for around 8 minutes and its maxim height was 6.6 feet off the ground. This
event happened in September 1783. This marks one of the greatest advents of all time. Another
big hot air balloon event is the longest flight recorded this flight went from Japan to northern
Canada. Now for some fun, and rising facts. Did you know that birds fly by riding on warm air
rising up from the ground. Hot air balloons are very dangers. If the pilot does not fly in the right
conditions the balloon may burst.
Air physics are some times very interesting. For example it may not seem to you air does
not have a weight or volume but it does. When air molecules meet heat they expand and begin
to move faster. When air cools the molecules begin to contract and slow down. Air is made of
many molecules because of this there is a certain force called air resistance. When something
moves and then collides with the molecules it slows as if going through a liquid. Larger shapes
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have more air resistance such as a cardboard square compared to a cone.. This force makes a
parachutes go slower. Many scientist study aerodynamics of shapes which is trying to find what
is not affected by air resistance. They try to make faster travel. Air has volume but it spreads to
any space available. These are basic air physics.
There are many controls to hot air balloons. A hot air balloon has a single layer of fabric
gas lifting balloon. At the bottom of this balloon is a small opening called the mouth or
throught. Then the balloon is coated with a sealer this makes it so air cannot go through its
fabric. At the top of almost any hot air balloon is some sort of vent this system makes it so the
pilot can lower the hot air balloon. The most common type of vent is the parachute vent. This is
a disk of flat fabric that can be opened or closed. The most common balloon shape is the
traditional tear-drop shape. The basket is where the pilot and passengers stand or sit. It is
usually made of woven wicker or ratten. These baskets must be light and durable for the flight.
Some baskets have even been known to be out of aluminum. These types of baskets are usually
used for landing without a ground crew. The burner is a very big part of the operating systems.
This part turns liquid propane into gas, adds air, and then ignites toward the balloons mouth. A
regular burner can produce 2 to 3 MW of heat. The pilot ignites the burner by opening a
propane valve , this valve is known as the Blast valve. For balloons with more than one burner,
the pilot can operate two at the same time for the amount of heat needed. The burner is
suspended over the basket under the mouth of the balloon. Burners may be mounted on a
gimbal so the pilot can aim the flame. A second propane valve may be on board. This valve can
release propane much slower than the Blast valve. This valve makes a different sound Earning it
the name the whisper valve. Whisper valves are normally used when wanting a slower climb or
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when over livestock so the balloon does not scare them. The propane fuel tanks are inside the
basket; these are usually made of aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium. Instruments for the
flight are also needed on board. These consist of a altimeter to tell the altitude of the balloon, a
variameter the climbing speed of the balloon, a thermometer, and GPS. These are the operating
systems and how to operate them.
I believe hot air balloons have a huge future. I think they will provide cleaner ways to
travel and be amazed. These magnificent machines will fly high. They will provide much, much
better ways to travel. I think hot air balloons are going to help the future.
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Results
57°
63°
73°
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
39.7
32
21.7
31.1
41.2
46.4
54.6
47.4
40.4
71.9
50.3
54.2
80
70
60
Flight Duration
50
57°
40
63°
30
73°
20
10
0
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Tempature
Observations
My observations for this report where quite seeable. I saw that at morning the balloons
where easier to get off the ground. Some of the afternoon launches took very long to just get
them to float. We also saw that once the balloons where on their way in the morning they rose
better.
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Biblical Application
Judges 13:20
“As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in
the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground .”
This verse is very good for my topic because like a hot air balloon God ascended
into heaven. He calls us to believe in Him and ascend into heaven with Him. There in
His kingdom we can spend eternality with Him. This is why he need to believe in Him.
Remember God always ascends into heaven.
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Conclusion
My result of my experiment where………..morning/cold was the fastest! This is means
that cold air is much lighter than warm air. The molecules in cold air are closer together making
it heavier; where in warm molecules are much farther apart making it lighter. This allows a
enclosed balloon of warm air is lighter than the surrounding air allowing it to rise. So is
concludes that in cold air a hot air balloon will rise the fastest.
How could I extend and alter it? Well it probably would be much better in a real, life size
hot air balloon. It might be extended more by letting it loose in open air rather than in a ware
house. One other extended or alter would be an interview of a hot air balloon pilot. This was
great fun and I hope you like this report as much as I did making it.
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Bibliography
"Hot Air Balloon Physics." Real Worls Physics. <http://www.real-world-physicsproblems.com/hot-air-balloon-physics.html>.
"Hot air balloon." Wikipedia. 16 May 2013. Wikimedia Foundation. 22 May 2013
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_air_balloon>.
Lauw, Darlene, and Cheng Puay. Lim. Air. New York: Crabtree Pub., 2003.
"Science behind Hot Air Balloons." Science behind Hot Air Balloons. 22 May 2013
<http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/970106a.html>.
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