How does a pilot get an air balloon to go up in the sky? To descend to the ground?
The burner in an air balloon uses propane gas to heat up the air in the envelope. This moves the balloon off the ground and into the air. The pilot has to constantly fire the burner at regular periods of time during the whole flight. This ensures that the balloon continues to be stable.
To move the balloon upwards the pilot first opens up the propane valve. This allows the propane to flow to the burner which in reaction, fires the flame up into the envelope. The more the pilot opens the valve, the bigger the flame there is to heat the air, and thus the faster the balloon rises.
To get the balloon to descend to the ground the pilot uses the Parachute Valve, which is at the very top of the balloon. The Parachute Valve is a fabric cut out of the top of the envelope which is controlled by a long chord. This cord runs down through the middle of the envelope and leads to the basket. When the pilot decides to lower the balloon all he does is pulls on the chord which will open the valve, which then lets hot air escape. This decreases the inner air temperature. This cooling of air causes the balloon to slowly lower itself.
To move the balloon upwards the pilot first opens up the propane valve. This allows the propane to flow to the burner which in reaction, fires the flame up into the envelope. The more the pilot opens the valve, the bigger the flame there is to heat the air, and thus the faster the balloon rises.
To get the balloon to descend to the ground the pilot uses the Parachute Valve, which is at the very top of the balloon. The Parachute Valve is a fabric cut out of the top of the envelope which is controlled by a long chord. This cord runs down through the middle of the envelope and leads to the basket. When the pilot decides to lower the balloon all he does is pulls on the chord which will open the valve, which then lets hot air escape. This decreases the inner air temperature. This cooling of air causes the balloon to slowly lower itself.
How does a pilot travel north, south, east, or west? What control do they have over this?
The pilot can move the air balloon horizontally by changing the vertical position of the balloon because the wind blows in different directions at different altitudes. If the pilot wants to move in a particular direction they just ascend and descend to the right level in the air and ride with the wind.
The pilot can only physcially control the balloon in an up and down motion. The rest of the control depends almost entirely on the wind currents and weather. The direction of the balloon traveling depends on the wind.
Altitude affects both the speed and direction of the hot air balloon. When the altitude is higher, the balloon moves faster. The direction of the wind differs with altitude. The ability to change direction with altitude is called steerage. Ideally, the wind direction turns to the right with an increase in altitude. For example if a pilot is traveling northbound and wishes to travel eastbound, he would have to ascend into the next level. In the southern hemisphere, the direction of the spirals of wind and altitudes are reversed so moving it would be entirely different from that of air balloons in the Northern Hemisphere.
The pilot can only physcially control the balloon in an up and down motion. The rest of the control depends almost entirely on the wind currents and weather. The direction of the balloon traveling depends on the wind.
Altitude affects both the speed and direction of the hot air balloon. When the altitude is higher, the balloon moves faster. The direction of the wind differs with altitude. The ability to change direction with altitude is called steerage. Ideally, the wind direction turns to the right with an increase in altitude. For example if a pilot is traveling northbound and wishes to travel eastbound, he would have to ascend into the next level. In the southern hemisphere, the direction of the spirals of wind and altitudes are reversed so moving it would be entirely different from that of air balloons in the Northern Hemisphere.
Using the ideal gas law to explain why a hot air balloon rises:
The ideal gas law helps to give us understanding of the chemistry behind an air balloon rising. The ideal gas law is a mathematical relationship between the volume pressure and temperature of a gas. The equation
for the ideal gas law is shown to the left.
Pressureand temperature are directly related, so as one increases so does theother. The volume of a hot air balloons envelope is constant; therefore
when a pilot increases the temperature, the top of the envelope is confronted with a pressure that causes the balloon to lift.
When a gas is heated, like in a hot air balloon, then its volume will increase. There is a heater in the balloon’s basket that heats up the air inside the balloon. Then it blows hot air into the balloon. As the volume of gas increases, it fills the balloon. The hot air balloon then becomes full of hot air. If the air continues to heat up, it will expand the and flow out of the hole in the bottom of the balloon.
for the ideal gas law is shown to the left.
Pressureand temperature are directly related, so as one increases so does theother. The volume of a hot air balloons envelope is constant; therefore
when a pilot increases the temperature, the top of the envelope is confronted with a pressure that causes the balloon to lift.
When a gas is heated, like in a hot air balloon, then its volume will increase. There is a heater in the balloon’s basket that heats up the air inside the balloon. Then it blows hot air into the balloon. As the volume of gas increases, it fills the balloon. The hot air balloon then becomes full of hot air. If the air continues to heat up, it will expand the and flow out of the hole in the bottom of the balloon.
Sources:
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