How does a Hot Air Balloon work

Summary

Summary of "Who Smarted?" Episode: How Does a Hot Air Balloon Work

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Introduction to the Adventure

Timestamp: [00:02] – [02:34]

In this engaging episode of Who Smarted?, the trusty narrator introduces listeners to the exhilarating experience of hot air ballooning. From the moment the balloon launches into the sky, listeners are taken on a vibrant journey filled with curiosity and fun.

Trusty Narrator kicks off with intriguing hints to captivate young minds:

“You'll never believe where I am right now... If you said I'm in a hot air balloon, you're right. This is my first time being up in one, and I gotta say, it feels like I'm literally floating on air.” ([00:02])

Introducing Vicky, the knowledgeable balloon pilot, she adds:

“That's because you are.” ([00:56])

The duo sets the stage for an adventurous exploration of hot air balloons, promising to uncover fascinating facts and historical insights.

History of Hot Air Balloons

Timestamp: [04:42] – [07:48]

Vicky delves into the origins of ballooning, highlighting the ingenious Montgolfier brothers:

“The first hot air balloon was also invented by two brothers, Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier... They noticed that when they held a large lightweight paper bag upside down over a fire, the hot air from the fire would eventually fill the inside of the and cause it to rise upwards.” ([04:42])

She explains their first successful flight in 1782:

“Their first test run rose to a height of about 75ft.” ([05:33])

The discussion transitions to the introduction of ballooning in America. Vicky shares:

“The first balloon flight to take place in America happened in 1793... piloted by Jean Pierre Blanchard... launched by none other than George Washington himself.” ([07:11])

Components of a Hot Air Balloon

Timestamp: [07:48] – [10:13]

Vicky breaks down the essential parts of a hot air balloon:

• Envelope:

  “The envelope is the big balloon part... made from nylon or dacron... constructed using long panels sewn together.” ([08:04])

• Burner:

  “The burner unit mixes the propane with air, ignites the mixture, and directs the flame and its gas into the mouth of the balloon.” ([08:50])

• Gondola:

  “Most gondolas are made of woven wicker or rattan... they’re both lightweight and strong.” ([09:46])

Trusty Narrator inquires about capacity:

“How many people can safely go up in a hot air balloon at once?” ([09:37])

Vicky responds:

“The basket on this balloon is outfitted to hold four or five people, but there are some designed to hold 25 to 30 people.” ([09:57])

Hot Air Ballooning Around the World

Timestamp: [10:13] – [11:08]

Exploring global ballooning hotspots, Vicky highlights:

• Serengeti, Tanzania:

  “You can fly above the Serengeti to observe wildlife without disturbing them.” ([10:35])

• Cappadocia, Turkey:

  “Hundreds of tall cone-shaped rock formations that look like chimneys in a make-believe fairyland.” ([10:41])

• Sedona, Arizona:

  “View the spectacular red rocks.” ([11:08])

• Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico:

  “Hundreds of balloonists take to the air simultaneously and hold races over the course of a week.” ([11:08])

How Hot Air Balloons Work

Timestamp: [15:31] – [17:54]

After a brief advertisement break, the informative segment resumes with Vicky explaining the mechanics of ballooning:

“I have to release some air in order for us to begin our descent.” ([15:31])

Trusty Narrator seeks clarification:

“So how do you release air without just crashing?” ([15:48])

Vicky explains the venting process:

“I pull this cord, which is attached to a circular flap of fabric at the top of the envelope. This flap is called a parachute vent. Venting is what we call the process of releasing air in order to go down.” ([15:48])

Trusty Narrator summarizes the lift mechanism:

“...when you began adding heat into the envelope from the burner, the molecules inside the heated air began to move faster and spread out, causing the envelope to rise.” ([16:10])

Records and World Travels

Timestamp: [16:37] – [18:33]

The episode reaches thrilling heights as Vicky shares remarkable records:

• Highest Altitude:

  “The current record for highest altitude for a hot air balloon is closer to 70,000ft... Vijay Pat Singhanya went up to 68,986ft.” ([16:58])

  Trusty Narrator marvels:

  “70,000Ft. That's over twice the height of Mount Everest. How could he even breathe?” ([17:25])

• Circumnavigation:

  “You can go around the world in a hot air balloon. Bertrand Picard did it in 1999... but he traveled nonstop without refueling in only 20 days, not 80 days as in the movie.” ([18:01])

Trusty Narrator expresses awe:

“Ooh, I see the field where your friends are waiting with their inflated balloons.” ([18:33])

Conclusion and Landing

Timestamp: [18:33] – [19:06]

As the balloon approaches the landing field, Vicky coordinates the descent:

“We're coming in for a landing... You mind tossing those ropes over the edge as we get close to the ground?” ([18:39])

Trusty Narrator assists:

“I'm on it.” ([18:55])

With the adventure concluding, the episode wraps up with a playful nod to the journey:

“Thanks for smarting with us, buddy.” ([19:06])

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Behind the Scenes

Timestamp: [19:00] – End

The episode credits acknowledge the creative team:

“This episode, Hot Air Balloons was written by Dave Davis and voiced by Charlotte Cohn, Adam, Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert...” ([19:00])

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Key Takeaways:

• Historical Insights: Understanding the origins and milestones of hot air ballooning.
• Technical Knowledge: Learning about the components and mechanics that make ballooning possible.
• Global Perspective: Exploring famous ballooning locations around the world.
• Record-Breaking Feats: Highlighting extraordinary achievements in ballooning history.
• Engaging Learning: Combining humor and storytelling to make complex topics accessible and fun for young listeners.

Who Smarted? successfully transforms an educational topic into an entertaining adventure, making learning about hot air balloons both informative and enjoyable for kids and families alike.

Transcript

[Trusty Narrator]

Hey, smarty pants. You'll never believe where I am right now. Here are some quick hints for anyone who hasn't read the name of the episode. First, I launched from a big open field. Then I floated up into the air. Higher than the trees, but lower than the airplanes. About to where birds fly. Right now, the wind is pushing us along as I take in a truly amazing 360 degree view. So what am I doing? I heard someone say hang gliding. Good guess, but. And no, I'm not wearing a jetpack. If you said I'm in a hot air balloon, you're right. This is my first time being up in one, and I gotta say, it feels like I'm literally floating on air.

[Vicky]

That's because you are.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, good point, smarty pants. Say hi to my friend and balloon pilot, Vicky.

[Vicky]

Hey, smarty pants. Glad you could come ballooning with us today. Although I'm glad you're not all physically in the balloon with us. That would be way too heavy.

[Trusty Narrator]

Another good point. Vicky belongs to a balloon club with about 100 members who go ballooning around once or twice a month. She knows as much about ballooning as I do about eating pizza for lunch.

[Vicky]

Hmm. What was that strange noise?

[Trusty Narrator]

That was my stomach. Anytime I mention pizza and lunch, I get hungry. Any chance we'll be landing soon?

[Vicky]

Yes. We're actually flying to an even bigger field about 10 miles away. There we'll meet up with my club and about 20 other hot air balloons.

[Trusty Narrator]

Sweet. And how long does it take a hot air balloon to go 10 miles? I'm asking for my stomach.

[Vicky]

Well, a hot air balloon will only go as fast as the wind is blowing, and that varies from lower and higher altitudes. But generally, we'll float about eight to ten miles per hour.

[Trusty Narrator]

Great. That gives us plenty of time to find out the answers to some questions about hot air ballooning. Like when was ballooning first invented? How does a hot air balloon work? What's the highest altitude a hot air balloon has reached? And can you actually travel around the world in one? Are you formally challenging me to undertake a journey around the world in 80 days?

[Vicky]

I say this is absurd.

[Trusty Narrator]

Get ready for a wild ride as we take to the skies for the for another whiff of science and history on who's Smarted?

[Vicky]

Who's Smarted?

[Trusty Narrator]

Who's smart?

[Vicky]

Is it you?

[Trusty Narrator]

Is it me?

[Vicky]

Is it science?

[Trusty Narrator]

Or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun.

[Vicky]

On who's smarted.

[Trusty Narrator]

Whoosmarted is sponsored by BetterHelp Trusty Narrator here with all the parenting advice and wellness trends out there. Cold plunges, Gratitude journals, screen detoxes. It is overwhelming trying to figure out what actually works for you and your family. That's where talking to a real therapist makes all the difference. They help you cut through the noise and find strategies that'll genuinely help you and help your family thrive. Now I've personally made some real breakthroughs in therapy, honestly just becoming a better version of myself for me and everyone in my life. And a big part of that was BetterHelp. BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform with over 30,000 therapists and a 4.9 out of 5 App Store rating. Now with BetterHelp, you can fit therapy into your busy parenting life with the click of a button and you can switch therapists anytime if needed. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise. Talk it out with BetterHelp, our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com whoSmarted that's BetterHelp. H E L P alright Vicky, I'd say most of the smarty pants listening know that the very first airplane flight took place in 1903 by brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. And if you didn't know that, smarty pants, you can hear all about it on our who Smarted? Episode on airplanes. But who invented the hot air balloon and when?

[Vicky]

Coincidentally, the first hot air balloon was also invented by two brothers, Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier, Only they lived in Paris, France. They were paper makers who began experimenting with making paper bags float. They noticed that when they held a large lightweight paper bag upside down over a fire, the hot air from the fire would eventually fill the inside of the and cause it to rise upwards.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, why is that, smarty pants? Is it because warm air rises or because paper bags are afraid of fire? Of course it's because warm air rises. Exactly how high did their bag float up?

[Vicky]

Their first test run rose to a height of about 75ft.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow. That's as as big tall as a seven story building or ten LeBron James. When did this happen?

[Vicky]

Let's see if the smarty pants can guess. Was it the 1600s, the 1700s or the 1800s? If you said the 1700s, good job. 1782 to be exact. And things moved quickly from that point on. The following year, the Montgolfier brothers would construct a much larger version of their experiment, this time using silken paper. The new balloon was attached To a circular platform, and two men stood on the platform as air was heated and the balloon lifted into the sky.

[Trusty Narrator]

Sounds dangerous.

[Vicky]

It wasn't the safest.

[Trusty Narrator]

How high and far did they go?

[Vicky]

They reached an altitude of 500ft and traveled about five miles, landing safely in a vineyard about a half hour later. From there, ballooning was born.

[Trusty Narrator]

Incredible indeed.

[Vicky]

Trusty, you ready to go up a bit higher so we can catch more wind and go faster?

[Trusty Narrator]

My brain says we're high enough, but my stomach says faster. So when did ballooning first come to america?

[Vicky]

The first balloon flight to take place in America happened in 1793. That one was filled using hydrogen gas and piloted by Jean pierre blanchard. He took off from philadelphia, rising up to nearly 6,000ft with the launch of by none other than George washington himself. I sure could have used that to cross the delaware. Hey, trusty, would you like to take a turn filling the envelope?

[Trusty Narrator]

The envelope? Are we mailing a letter?

[Vicky]

No. The fabric portion of a balloon that gets filled with hot air is known as the envelope. Some pilots call it the bag.

[Trusty Narrator]

I see.

[Vicky]

A hot air balloon actually consists of several components. The envelope is the big balloon part. Due to its enormous size, it's the most recognized.

[Trusty Narrator]

What materials are envelopes made from?

[Vicky]

The majority are made from nylon or dacron, which is a polyester, A synthetic or human made material that's similar to a parachute. If you look straight up into the balloon, you'll see it's constructed using long panels that are sewn together with each seam running from the crown or top of the envelope all the way down to an opening known as the mouth.

[Trusty Narrator]

And what's the heating unit called that supplies the hot air?

[Vicky]

That is the burner? It basically gasifies liquid propane.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, smarty pants. Do you know anything that uses propane? If you use a gas grill to barbecue, chances are you're burning propane.

[Vicky]

The burner unit mixes the propane with air, Ignites the mixture, and directs the flame and its gas into the mouth of the balloon. At the bottom of the envelope.

[Trusty Narrator]

I see you have several fuel tanks with hoses running to the burner unit.

[Vicky]

Yes. The size of the envelope and the amount of weight it needs to carry Determines how many fuel tanks will be loaded and secured to the gondola.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, smarty pants. Do you know what the gondola section of a hot air balloon is? Why? It's the basket underneath the part that Vicky and I are standing in.

[Vicky]

Most gondolas are made of woven wicker or rattan. Those materials are perfect because they're both lightweight and strong.

[Trusty Narrator]

How many people can safely go up in a hot air balloon at once?

[Vicky]

Well, the basket on this balloon is outfitted to hold four or five people, but believe it or not, there are some which are designed to hold 25 to 30 people.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow, that's a lot of people.

[Vicky]

Yep. Usually you find those giant balloons in resort areas where tourists can take balloon rides over areas of great interest and beauty. For example, you can fly above the Serengeti in a balloon in order to observe the wildlife below without disturbing them.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, it must be incredible to watch zebras, giraffes, elephants and rhinos from a hot air balloon.

[Vicky]

Another popular spot to balloon is a region called Cappadocia, which is in the country of Turkey. Due to erosion, the hundreds of tall cone shaped rock formations that look like chimneys in a make believe fairyland.

[Trusty Narrator]

That sounds cool too.

[Vicky]

Closer to home, I've made stuff several trips to places like Sedona, Arizona to view the spectacular red rocks. I've also participated in the International Balloon Fiesta held in Albuquerque, New Mexico each October where hundreds of balloonists take to the air simultaneously and hold races over the course of a week.

[Trusty Narrator]

That also sounds fun.

[Vicky]

Okay, Trusty, hold onto the railing while I release some air from the envelope.

[Trusty Narrator]

Release some air? But won't that deflate the balloon? Why would you want to do that? Wait, don't tell me. At least until after this quick break. Hey, smartypants. Trusty here. What if your watch could call your parents, text your friends, play games, and still help you ace the school day? Say hi to Pinwheel, the smartwatch that's built just for kids. Whether you're walking to school, riding your bike, or hanging out with friends, Pinwheel lets you stay in touch with the people that you care about and blocks everyone else. No junk, no spam, just the good stuff. You can pick your favorite color band, play fun games, and even chat with a super cool kid. Safe AI if your grownups turn it on. And when it's time to focus, your watch knows. Thanks to custom schedules that your parents set, right now you can get awesome deals on watches for back to school, plus free shipping and returns. Check it out at pinwheel.com smarted that's P-I N W H E-E-L.com smarted and gear up with the coolest watch made just for you. WhoSmarted is brought to you by Squarespace. Now, you know I'm good about creating new adventures and episodes of Whosmarted, but you don't know that I Procrastinate on other stuff, like a website for one of our new projects. Oops. When the website builder Squarespace reached out about sponsoring WhoSmarted, I decided to test it out. And now I feel silly for putting off building that website. Squarespace's blueprint AI thing literally built me a custom website in minutes. I just told it a few details about the project and boom, it generated everything. And everything you need is right there. I can schedule guest interviews, send email campaigns, even sell merch, all from one dashboard. Now it's your turn to stop procrastinating and start building. You can use Squarespace to launch that business site or any site that you've been dreaming about. But putting off today, there's no excuse anymore. Especially since you can head to squarespace.com smarted for a free trial. And when you're ready to launch, you can use Code smarted to save 10% on your first purchase of a website or domain. That's squarespace.com smarted codesmarted. Smarty parents trusty here. And I have to tell you about IXL because our whole team is absolutely obsessed with it. My niece and nephew use it, my colleagues kids are on it daily. And honestly, every homeschool parent I know has become a total fan. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that covers math, language arts, science and social studies that adapts to each child's level. It fits perfectly into homeschool routines, even summertime ones. And it keeps kids motivated and confident. And IXL isn't just a sponsor. They've actually become part of our team's lives. And here's why. Instead of spending hours hunting down worksheets, IXL organizes everything by grade and topic. My 9 year old nephew works on multiplication, while my colleague's 12 year old tackles algebra. Same program, totally personalized. When kids get something wrong, IXL explains the mistake and walks them through the right approach in an easy and fun way. Plus, detailed reports show where they're crushing it. Over 15 million students use IXL. WhoSmarted listeners get 20% [e-mail] smarted with code WHOSMARTED. That's IXL.com smarted with code WHOSMARTED. Now back to WhoSmarted. So what was that about releasing some air?

[Vicky]

I have to release some air in order for us to begin our descent. You don't want to stay up here all day, do you?

[Trusty Narrator]

No, definitely not. So how do you release air without just crashing?

[Vicky]

It's simple. I pull this cord, which is attached to a circular flap of fabric at the top of the envelope. This flap is called a parachute vent. Venting is what we call the process of releasing air in order to go down.

[Trusty Narrator]

Sweet. So to recap how it works, when we were on the ground before takeoff, the balloon or envelope was filled, but the air temperature inside the envelope was the same as the surrounding air. So we just sat there on the ground. But once you began adding heat into the envelope from the burner, the molecules inside the heated air began to move faster and spread out, causing the envelope to rise.

[Vicky]

Exactly. Trusty. Well done.

[Trusty Narrator]

Thanks. So how high up can a hot air balloon go? And how high do you usually fly?

[Vicky]

Hot air balloons typically float through the sky between 1,000 and 3,000ft.

[Trusty Narrator]

Okay, that's pretty high, but not too crazy. But what's the highest a hot air balloon has ever gone?

[Vicky]

Smarty pants? Care to take a guess what the current record is for highest altitude for a hot air balloon? Is it closer to 10,000ft, 20,000ft, 50,000ft, or 70,000ft? If you said closer to 70,000ft or a little over 21 kilometers, you're right.

[Trusty Narrator]

70,000Ft. That's over twice the height of Mount Everest. How could he even breathe? I know.

[Vicky]

It's crazy, right? Vijay Pat singhanya went up 68,000, 986ft.

[Trusty Narrator]

Whoa.

[Vicky]

He launched from Bombay, India, and landed about 150 miles away. Oh, and he wore an oxygen mask and a heavy coat.

[Trusty Narrator]

Amazing. And what about the idea that you could travel around the world, like in the movie around the world in 80 days? Could that be true?

[Vicky]

What do you think, smarty pants? The answer is true and false. The true part is you can go circumnavigate or circle the world in a hot air balloon. Bertrand Picard, a Swiss psychiatrist, did it in 1999, along with a British balloon instructor named Brian Jones. The false part is the 80 days they actually traveled around the globe nonstop without refueling, in only 20 days.

[Trusty Narrator]

Amazing. Ooh, I see the field where your friends are waiting with their inflated balloons. I mean, envelopes.

[Vicky]

Yep. We're coming in for a landing. My friends on the ground will help us out by tethering or tying our rig down. You mind tossing those ropes over the edge as we get close to the ground?

[Trusty Narrator]

I'm on it.

[Vicky]

Great job, trustee. Hey, you trying to go back up?

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, no. I was just using the burner to reheat my pizza lunch. A high flying shout out to Huxley in Council Bluffs, Iowa. According to your message, you like learning new things and think that the trusty narrator is funny. Well, I'm not going to argue with you on that. Thanks for smarting with us, buddy. This episode, Hot Air Balloons was written by Dave Davis and voiced by Charlotte Cohn, Adam, Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn, who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room studios. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis, who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.