Do you want to learn how to make a hot air balloon that
really floats? By making your own model, you’ll gain a
better understanding of how they work. When you make balloon
crafts, you get a chance to show your artistic side, but
when you make a hot air balloon that rises from the ground,
you get a chance to experience real science! What better way
to learn about ballooning than to make your own floating
creation? This project isn’t pretty but it’s a lot of fun.
What you’ll need:
- A plastic grocery bag
- Several plastic straws
- Glue
- Thread
- A hair dryer
- Modeling clay
Make sure that the plastic bag has no holes in it other than
the handles. Use glue and about three or four plastic straws
to make a ring about five inches in diameter. You may need
to snip a slot at the tip of each straw to make it easier to
insert another straw inside. Once the ring is sturdy, slip
the bag through it and glue the bag to it just below the
handles.
Tie a long piece of thread to each handle and use globs of
modeling clay at the bottom to keep the ends firmly attached
to the table or other surface.
With the help of a responsible adult, use the hair dryer on
low to slowly heat up the air inside the bag. While it’s
tempting to use the higher setting, doing so could cause the
bag to melt. If you smell burning plastic, turn off the hair
dryer.
As the air inside the bag heats up, the hot air balloon
should begin to rise. Continue slowly heating the air until
the balloon is full and lifting off of the table. You did it
– you learned how to make a hot air balloon!
Troubleshooting Steps
When you make a hot air balloon using materials such as
plastic grocery bags and straws, results vary. If your hot
air balloon did not get off the ground, something may have
gone wrong. If your balloon did not lift off, check for
holes in the bag. If you discover any holes, use pieces of
scotch tape to seal them off or try the project again with a
different bag.
Air temperature also plays a role in the success of this
project. Hot air rises. If it’s a hot day to begin with,
you’ll need to heat the air much more than if you try this
project on a cooler day.
Another common problem involves weight. Try making a hot air
balloon without the supporting ring and see if that solves
your lift-off problem. You can also use other types of
plastic bags such as produce bags from the grocery store or
a dry cleaner’s bag. Remember to keep all of these bags out
of reach of babies and toddlers.
As you experiment with different materials, you’ll discover
how to make a hot air balloon. Though it’s just a simplified
model of the giant balloons you can ride, the next time you
see a hot air balloon afloat, you’ll understand exactly how
it works.
How A Hot Air Balloon Works
The First Hot Air Balloon
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