"A hot air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft consisting of a bag, called an envelope, which contains heated air."
Understand the principles of physics that govern the operation of hot air balloons, including buoyancy, air pressure, and altitude.
Properties of air: Understanding the unique qualities of air and how it behaves under different conditions is a fundamental aspect of hot air balloon physics.
Thermodynamics: This branch of physics deals with the relationships between heat, energy, and work. Knowing the principles of thermodynamics is essential in understanding how hot air balloons work.
Gas laws: The behavior of gases is different from other materials such as solids or liquids. The gas laws help to explain how gases behave under different circumstances.
Heat transfer: Balloons rely on the transfer of heat to take flight, and understanding the different methods of heat transfer is key to understanding the physics of hot air balloons.
Aerodynamics: This branch of physics deals with the study of air and how it interacts with objects moving through it. Knowing the principles of aerodynamics is essential in understanding how hot air balloons move and stay in flight.
Pressure differentials: Hot air balloons work by creating a pressure differential between the inside of the balloon and the surrounding air, and understanding how this works is an important part of hot air balloon physics.
Balloon construction and mechanics: Understanding the materials and mechanics involved in the construction of hot air balloons is an essential aspect of hot air balloon physics.
Altitude and weather effects: The physics of hot air balloons is heavily dependent on the altitude and weather conditions, and understanding these effects is crucial to safe and successful flights.
Navigation: Hot air balloons do not have a traditional means of navigation, so understanding the physics of wind and currents is essential to staying on course.
Safety considerations: Finally, the physics of hot air balloons must be understood in the context of safety, including issues such as stability, lift, and descent.
Thermodynamics: The study of the thermal properties of hot air and how it affects buoyancy in hot air balloons.
Aerodynamics: The study of how air flows around the balloon and how it affects its motion and stability.
Gas Laws: The study of how the temperature, pressure, and volume of gas affect each other.
Heat Transfer: The study of how heat is transferred from the burner to the air inside the balloon and how it affects its buoyancy.
Mechanics: The study of the motion and forces involved in the ascent, descent, and control of the hot air balloon.
Materials Science: The study of the materials used in hot air balloons, including the fabric, basket, and burner.
Control Systems: The study of the systems used to control the altitude, direction, and speed of the hot air balloon.
Flight Dynamics: The study of the dynamics of hot air balloon flight, including the effects of wind, temperature, and altitude on the balloon's motion.
Navigation: The study of the methods and tools used to navigate a hot air balloon, including GPS, maps, and compasses.
Aerostatics: The study of the physics of lighter-than-air vehicles, including hot air balloons, zeppelins, and blimps.
"Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule), which carries passengers and a source of heat."
"[...] in most cases an open flame caused by burning liquid propane."
"The heated air inside the envelope makes it buoyant, since it has a lower density than the colder air outside the envelope."
"No, hot air balloons cannot fly beyond the atmosphere. The envelope does not have to be sealed at the bottom, since the air inside the envelope is at about the same pressure as the surrounding air."
"In modern sport balloons, the envelope is generally made from nylon fabric."
"The inlet of the balloon (closest to the burner flame) is made from a fire-resistant material such as Nomex."
"Yes, modern balloons have been made in many shapes, such as rocket ships and the shapes of various commercial products, though the traditional shape is used for most non-commercial and many commercial applications."
"The first untethered manned hot air balloon flight was performed by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes on November 21, 1783, in Paris, France."
"The balloon was created by the Montgolfier brothers."
"The first hot air balloon flown in the Americas was launched from the Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia on January 9, 1793, by the French aeronaut Jean Pierre Blanchard."
"Hot air balloons that can be propelled through the air rather than simply drifting with the wind are known as thermal airships."
"Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule)."
"The heated air inside the envelope makes it buoyant, since it has a lower density than the colder air outside the envelope."
"The envelope does not have to be sealed at the bottom since the air inside the envelope is at about the same pressure as the surrounding air."
"In most cases, an open flame caused by burning liquid propane."
"The traditional shape is used for most non-commercial and many commercial applications."
"The inlet of the balloon (closest to the burner flame) is made from a fire-resistant material such as Nomex."
"In modern sport balloons, the envelope is generally made from nylon fabric."
"The first untethered manned hot air balloon flight was performed on November 21, 1783, in Paris, France."