The hot air ballon

by dan
(roslindale, ma)

You can defy gravity with your own heat - Instead of staring at the ground like you're stuck, you can build a machine that turns a little bit of fire into total freedom. Most people think gravity is a law you have to follow, but I'm going to show you how to break it with a trash bag and some heat.

Dan tells us... My hot air balloon. I actually made a real hot air balloon but only about 3'by 3' and it was to explain how heat rises and how an actual hot air balloon works. I made it out of paper-mâché a coffee can and craft wood. I used a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol for the heat source and place it in the coffee can to hold it. This heat-generating mechanism was attached to the actual hot air balloon.

Barry's Response - Dan:

Such simple household items: paper mâché, coffee can, rubbing alcohol can be used to make the most classic of experiments. Thanks.

One note of safety concern. The usage of volatile fuels, including alcohol, may be frowned upon by authorities if conducting this experiment in your school. Extra permission and/or supervision may be required, as liquid flammables tend to be harder to control than water, and the consequence of a spill can be more disastrous.

One solution may be to use candles instead, as they are more stable and controllable. Trade-offs may be required to make this thing fly, as candles are heavier. Try substituting lighter, stronger materials, such as thin plastic sheeting in place of the paper mâché when possible.

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Hot Air Balloons Defy Gravity and Groupthink

Don't stare at the ground like you belong there. You have to learn how to live in the sky if you want to understand it. It's not just a science fair trick; it's an act of defiance.

The Science of the RISE

We talk about buoyancy in the workshop. Displacement is what we talk about in the atmosphere. Dan manipulates the Ideal Gas Law when he ignites that cotton ball:

In other words, PV = nRT

As the temperature (T) increases, the air molecules inside his paper-mâché envelope dance. They bump into each other, demand more space, and lower the density of the air. As a result, there's an imbalance in pressure. The cooler, denser air outside pushes the balloon up. The atmosphere itself is catapulting you, not just floating.

Thermal Optimism: A Scientific Counter-Narrative

There's a tendency in mainstream climate discourse to paint "rising temperatures" as a singular monster. Of course we can see energy in a warming atmosphere.

As the Earth warms, the convective potential increases. Focus on how to take advantage of the increased thermals instead of panicking about a changing map. Doom-skeptics point out that life often thrives in warmer eras. You've got a choice to make: will you fear the heat, or will you use it to lift your ideas as a steward of this planet?

Engineering Guide for Rebels

Why does the idea to use thin plastic sheeting work? It's all about mass.

• Lever of Heat: Your heat source acts as the lever that moves the weight of the air..
• Soot (particulate matter) can actually weigh down air molecules if you fly your balloon in a smoggy city. Clean air makes your balloon fly better. It's where Air Quality Consulting meets "Backyard Fun"-clean air isn't just for breathing; it's for lifting.

Here's why it matters

You can identify with the self-reliance of the those who like to build it yourself, take the risk OR the environmental passion of the people who insist we protect the skies and understand the earth. Freedom of Thought is required to question why things fall, and creativity is required to make them fly.

Don't settle for a 3-foot hoverboard. Learn about the boundary layer of the atmosphere. You can tweak the craft wood with your fingers. Turn a "warning" into a launchpad.

In a nutshell: DIY engineering meets theoretical meteorology in this guide. From the art of the 1700s to the high-tech sensors of the 21st century, it respects the history of flight. You have to think, build, and breathe.

Are we just heating up a closed bottle, or do we get more lift from a warming planet?

What if you put a camera on Dan's balloon? Make a comment and let's start a meteorological revolution!