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Greetings everyone! I have a question that I'm hoping that someone could
help me out with. Towards the end of last school year, I was asked to
help the middle school science teachers with a science demonstration.
They were covering air densities and I thought a neat demonstration would
be to have the students make their own hot-air balloons. The balloons
were made out of tissue/packaging paper and the main caution is that the
paper is that it is flammable. The other dillema is that we needed a
strong heat source. The only thing I could find that was hot enough is a
bunsen burner. Once the air inside of the balloon is heated high enough,
the balloon would slowly rise up and fall back down because of the fact
it left its heat source.
Yesterday, I was talking to someone who stated that he has seen people
launching small hot air balloons powered by cotton balls soaked in
rubbing alcohol. The cotton ball is ignited, placed inside of the
balloon and the balloon launches and keeps rising because it is carrying
its own heat source. He also stated that another material other than
tissue paper was being used. Is anyone familiar with this? Has anyone
tried doing this? If so, could you e-mail me directly and possibly give
me the materials and instructions in making this?
Thanks in advance,
Dwight
dsouder@ashland.edu