Making a Hot Air Balloon

9th Annual Day of the Teacher Conference

March 26, 2011

CSUEB Concord Campus

Charles Reynes Elementary Science

SpecialistCastro Valley, USD

Making a Hot Air Balloon

Here is a simple way to make an extraordinary classroom demonstration that can be used whenever the concept of convection comes up in your curriculum.

Making a Hot Air BalloonHere’s what

you need.• 0.35ml plastic

sheeting• Heat or embossing

gun• Extension cord• 5-6 foot stick 1”x

3/4” A wooden yard stick works well.

• Garage floor (heat resistant)

Making a Hot Air BalloonPick up some 0.35 ml plastic painter’s tarp. I bought a big roll at The Home Depot, but I am sure smaller quantities are available.

Making a Hot Air BalloonRoll out about 9-12 feet of the plastic sheeting.

Making a Hot Air Balloon

• Spread out the sheet of plastic.

• Fold it in half.• Use a heat gun to

melt the edges together on three sides.

• Leave a hole at the bottom for inflation.

Seams

Fold

Hole for inflating

Making a Hot Air Balloon•Place the stick along the edges to be melted together. Leave a 1-2 inch space between the stick and the edge of the plastic.

Making a Hot Air BalloonRun the heat gun along the seam. The plastic will shrink and weld together. This may take some practice. Do this on a heat resistant (cement) floor.

Making a Hot Air BalloonMove the stick as you go along. Here I am rounding the corner.

Making a Hot Air BalloonSkip about ten inches in the middle of the bottom seam.This is where you fill the balloon with hot air from a blow drier.

Making a Hot Air Balloon

Use a blow drier to inflate the balloon.When I launch the balloon in class, I often fill it with cold air first. Then I fill it with hot air and let it rise to the ceiling.

Making a Hot Air Balloon

When I launch the balloon outside, I tie kite string to one corner so that I can reel it back in and use it again. Never let the balloon get away. What if it landed on a freeway?Enjoy!