The REAL Physics of Hot Air Balloons!

The video explores the concept of atmospheric pressure, explaining how a column of air weighs heavily on us. It introduces balloons as a means to escape this pressure, discussing how they float despite being filled with air. The video delves into the history of flight, highlighting the Montgolfier brothers' invention of the hot air balloon. It explains the ideal gas law and how it relates to balloon inflation, emphasizing the role of pressure and temperature. The principle of buoyancy is discussed, showing how balloons float due to gravity. The video concludes with a reflection on the experience of flying in a hot air balloon, likening it to floating in a fluid.

What is the approximate weight of the air in a 1 square meter column above your head?

• 20 tons

• 5 tons

• 1 ton

• 10 tons

Why do air molecules not float away despite being mostly empty space?

• They are attracted to each other

• They are held down by gravity

• They are trapped by the Earth's magnetic field

• They are too heavy to float

Who were the first to take flight using a hot air balloon?

• The Boeing brothers

• The Zeppelin brothers

• The Montgolfier brothers

• The Wright brothers

What happens to the pressure inside a balloon when it is heated?

• It remains the same

• It decreases

• It fluctuates

• It increases

Why does a hot air balloon float?

• It is filled with helium

• It defies gravity

• It is lighter than air

• It displaces more weight than it holds

What principle explains why ships float?

• Newton's third law

• Archimedes' principle

• Bernoulli's principle

• Pascal's law

How is flying in a hot air balloon similar to being a cloud?

• Both are powered by engines

• Both are solid structures

• Both float in a fluid

• Both are heavier than air