DIY Hot Air Balloons

              Hot air balloons have been around since 1782 and are a well known way of transportation or for just viewing the geographical features of our modern world. Hot air balloons are also the oldest human-carrying flight technology ever. The way these balloons work is that heat is released into the balloon, and due to the fact that heat rises while cold air descends, when the balloon is heated internally, it will lift into the air and gradually rise higher when the passengers heat the inside.

In this instructable, I will be showing you how to make your own mini hot air balloon from just a few, cheap household items.
As you view this instructable, you will not only learn how to build the hot air balloon, but also learn the technology behind hot air balloons. This is a great hands-on learning experience that I use to teach my science class.

Step 1: Materials

Materials needed:

1- Large Plastic Bag(I used a bag from the dry cleaners)
3-4 Birthday candles
1-Thick and sturdy wire
1-Aluminum foil
1-Glue gun
1-Lighter

And of course some patience:)

Comments

[KD8MSS]

My Father did this back in 1965. It was a fun evening and we loved the reports of the UFO the next few days.

It was of course after a rain so nothing would catch fire if a balloon landed while the candles were burning.

[Kr. Saurav]

Can't we make the balloon with paper strips?
It would also reduce the chances of melting.
Also, instead of the candles, you could soak some cotton in alcohol and burn it.

[nof-z]

yes, i have used tissue paper to make different shapes.

[nof-z]

also, you can use charcoal

[hartmannsclass]

Please don't do this if you live west of the Rocky Mountains. We are much to dry an environment to launch a flame into the air, where it lands I know not where. How about tethering the bag with a thread? Can somebody recommend a heat source that isn't an open flame?

[spark master]

Use the thinnest black garbage bags ( or thin thin liners), you can find use a stove pipe system for initial lift once up in very bright noon-1 pm sun it should stay up for a while. If you google solar balloons

you will find a number of sites like this one

http://www.solar-balloons.com/

If yu make a "smallish " one you can do an outer clear bag that has been inflated a bit and sealed, when the inner bag is inflated it will act as a double paned window and keeep in energy a tad longer (balloon in a balloon).

some cool foil makers on it will make it "visible" to radar, but I am not sure if this is good or bad.

if you can do it early in the day so you know you will get a long flight.

[TheScienceMan]

Good suggestion,but i dont live near the rockies

[Velin9]

Not to let you down or anything, but I think you copied this from "sciencetoymaker.com" because they have the exact same thing on their website

[TheScienceMan]

Its a known idea, i didnt copy

[build52]

Yep I tried doing this once but it didn't work out. Good job!!!!

[TheScienceMan]

It takes patience. Three of the biggest mistakes i have seen were
A- not enough candles
B-It weighed too much
C-Too big of a bag

Hope you try this again!

[build52]

yeah I think my mistake was to thin of a bag.

[wilgubeast]

Good academic connection. Also, that looks like a lot of fun.

[TheScienceMan]

Thank you

[Build it and Fix it]

AWESOME!! my uncle is a science teacher. deffinatly recomending this to him!!

[TheScienceMan]

I myself am a teacher an have used this project to teach my students about cold air and warm air as i teach the weather unit. It is a great hands-on activity for the kids.

[rimar2000]

Good work, but warning, doing that I almost fire the house...

[TheScienceMan]

Yes, it is indeed a fire hazard and you must be cautious when doing this project.