Calculating Required Air Temperature for Hot Air Balloon Stability

  • Thread starter Thread starter unctarheels1
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the required average temperature of air in a hot air balloon for stability at a constant height. The balloon, with a total mass of 1650 kg and a volume of 5000 m³, requires a buoyant force of 63422 N to remain afloat. The calculated density of the air inside the balloon is 0.963 kg/m³, leading to an estimated temperature of 93.5 degrees Celsius based on the ideal gas law, using standard pressure of 101325 Pa. Participants confirm the calculations are generally correct, with minor variations possible due to pressure and density fluctuations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of buoyancy principles in fluid mechanics
  • Familiarity with the ideal gas law (PV=nRT)
  • Basic knowledge of temperature and density relationships
  • Ability to perform calculations involving forces and weights
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the ideal gas law and its applications in buoyancy calculations
  • Learn about the effects of altitude on air density and temperature
  • Explore variations in hot air balloon design and their impact on stability
  • Research the influence of environmental factors on hot air balloon performance
USEFUL FOR

Aerospace engineers, physics students, hot air balloon operators, and anyone interested in the principles of buoyancy and thermodynamics in aviation.

unctarheels1
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
Need to see if I worked this right.
Hot air balloon floating in air has at 0 degrees C ( desnsity = 1.293kg/m^3). The mass of the balloon and passengers is 1650kg. If they want to stay at a constant height, estimate the required average temperature of the air in the balloon. Assume the volume of air in the balloon is 5000m^3 and the density of air varies with temperature according to the following information.
-10 degrees C = 1.341 kg/m^3
-5 degrees C = 1.316 kg/m^3
0 degrees C = 1.293 kg/m^3
+5 degrees C = 1.269 kg/m^3
+10 degrees C = 1.247 kg/m^3
MY SOLUTION:
B = (1.293kg/m^3)(5000m^3)(9.81m/s^2) = 63422N Buoyant Force
Weight of Balloon is (1650kg)(9.81m/s^2) = 16187N
63422N-16187N=47235N
47235N/9.81m/s^2 = 4815kg
Density of air in balloon is 4185kg/5000m^3 = .963kg/m^3
So here I would have to assume the Pressure is standard and is equal to 101325 so from row=P/RT it would give me a temp in degrees C of 93.5. I assume that pressure because it seems that was the value he used in the table to calculate the density for the temps from -10 to +10.
Have I made any mistakes? Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
That's about right. The answer may vary by +/- 1-2 K depending on the pressure, air density and gas constant used.
 
Thanks for the response. Just worried that I made a mistake somewhere along the line of solving this problem.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
1K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
5K
Replies
6
Views
8K
Replies
26
Views
2K
Replies
18
Views
7K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
170
Views
8K