Hot Air Balloons Random Facts by Joshua Wu

A hot air balloon is defined as a type of aircraft that cannot maneuver in the air, propelled by a type of bag above the basket or gondola, where the pilot generally sits. The bag is called an envelope and beneath it, a source of heat is placed. The heat makes the air lighter, which is trapped by the bag. The trapped air causes the whole craft to become buoyant in the air like helium in a balloon, since the heated air, compared to the outside air, has a lower density. Flying wires connect hoops and wires sown into the balloon to the carriage. 















The hot air balloon is significant because it was the first sign that man could take flight. Previous attempts to take to the sky, such as emulating birds with mechanical wings, or other contraptions did not work and seemed futile. Precursors to the balloon included the sky lantern that the Chinese used in military signals, in a manner like smoke and fire was used to signal things. 







The reason why the balloon can float in the air is that it makes it buoyant; the force of the heat going upwards, like how a piece of floating wood floats upwards from water, creates force, pushing up against the envelope and lifting it upwards. The hot air is trying to escape upwards, pushing the balloon up. This is like if you took a life-jacket and draped a piece of cloth over it and submerged the pair: the force of the life-jacket floating upwards would propel the piece of cloth into the air, which is the principle of the balloon.







The impact of the balloon was not instant, years of mistrust and errors, like how one of the first innovators in hot-air balloons died from falling from his craft or like how his wife later died on one from hydrogen in the balloon igniting from fireworks, but over time the balloon was fashionable to ride on, and to watch a balloon air festival was a sign of staying with the times.