Hot Air Balloons

State the role each of the following played in the development of flying balloons.

• a.

  Joseph Michel Montgolfier and Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier.

• b.

  Jean Francois Pilatre de Rozier and Francois Laurent Marquis d’Arlandes.

• c.

  Jacques Alexandre Cesar Charles and Nicolas Louis Robert.

• d.

  Ben L. Abruzzo, Maxie L. Anderson, and Larry Newman

• e.

  Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones

Cite the principle of Archimedes, and briefly describe how it applies to each of the following:

• a.

  A piece of cork floating in a bowl of water.

• b.

  A ship floating in the ocean

• c.

  A hot air balloon floating in the atmosphere

Using a textbook of Chemistry, or a reference book of scientific tables, draw up a simple table showing the composition of air by weight and by volume.

Draw up a simple table showing a comparison of the atomic number, atomic weight, and density of hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, and oxygen.

Name two gases that are used in flying gas filled balloons.

Explain how heat/temperature affect the density of air, and how this applies to flying hot air balloons.

Explain the role of each of the following in the structure and flying of a hot air balloon.

• a.

  Envelope

• b.

  Support structure

• c.

  Throat

• d.

  Fuel source

Name two materials that may be used for the envelope of a hot air balloon, and compare the advantages each cords because of its properties.

Describe how flying balloons have served a useful function in

• a.

  Military campaigns

• b.

  Scientific research

At what time of the day do most sport balloon flights take place? Why?

Describe how a pilot controls the vertical movement of

• a.

  A hot air balloon

• b.

  A gas filled balloon

Describe how a pilot controls the lateral or horizontal movement of a flying balloon.

Build to completion one model hot air balloon ( or two if working in pairs ).

Successfully launch, fly, and recover the model hot air balloon(s) which you have built. Skill Level I