Observe: Fly Your Own Hot Air Balloon

The key to getting hot air balloons up into the air is buoyancy. They need to be less dense than the air around them so that they can float. How exactly is this accomplished?

Hot air balloons have special burners and a fuel supply that can heat the air within the balloon. The hot air is less dense than the air around it. Another important factor is the size of hot air balloons. The balloons must be large to be filled with enough hot air to produce lift. If the balloon is too small, it will not hold enough hot air to lift the basket.

Question: How does a hot air balloon fly?

Digging Deeper: This is an Optional Activity
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Instructions
  1. Note: This account requires parental permission to register and access through a username and password. Click on the website link.
  2. View the video and read the information.
  3. Once you feel you understand how a hot air balloon flies, take the following two quizzes found the right side of the webpage.
      • Take the Wonderword Challenge 
      • Did You Get It? Test Your Knowledge

  Notebook: How Does a Hot Air Balloon Fly?

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  2. Complete the activity using the links provided (in the activity and below)
  3. Save to your Flight Notebook. 

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