Hot air balloon staying in the air for 24 hours

In summary, a hot air balloon flying into the air and staying there for 24 hours will not have gone around the world once. This is because the atmosphere moves with the earth, so the balloon will rotate along with everything else on earth and will not travel a significant distance. Additionally, the Earth spins at over 1000 mph at the equator, so even if the balloon were to jump straight up into the air, it would not travel a significant distance due to the fast rotation of the Earth. The first around the world trip in a hot air balloon took just under 20 days, using high altitude prevailing winds.
  • #1
Gigil50
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If there is a hot air balloon and it flies into the air and stays there after 24 hours will the balloon have gone around the world once?
 
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  • #2
Nope. The atmosphere is moving with the earth, not stationary above it, so the balloon will rotate along with everything else on earth, and it will stay near wherever it started (with some variation of course due to winds).
 
  • #3
Gigil50 said:
If there is a hot air balloon and it flies into the air and stays there after 24 hours will the balloon have gone around the world once?

The Earth spins at over 1000 mph at the equator.

So if you jumped straight up into the air at the equator and were airborne for 1 second, would you land 1,467 feet away? (5,280 times 1000 divided by 60 seconds times 60 minutes)
 
  • #5


I cannot definitively say whether or not the hot air balloon will have gone around the world once after staying in the air for 24 hours. This would depend on various factors such as wind patterns, air currents, and the specific route taken by the balloon. Additionally, the height at which the balloon is flying can also affect its distance traveled. Therefore, further analysis and calculations would be needed to determine if the balloon has completed a full trip around the world.
 

1. How does a hot air balloon stay in the air for 24 hours?

A hot air balloon stays in the air for 24 hours because of the principle of buoyancy. The hot air inside the balloon is less dense than the surrounding air, causing it to rise. As long as the air inside the balloon stays hotter than the air outside, the balloon will continue to rise and stay afloat.

2. What keeps the hot air balloon from deflating during the 24 hours?

The hot air balloon is designed with a propane burner that constantly heats the air inside the balloon. This maintains the temperature and keeps the balloon inflated for the entire 24 hours. Additionally, the balloon's envelope is made of a durable and airtight material to prevent air from escaping.

3. Can a hot air balloon stay in the air for longer than 24 hours?

Technically, yes, a hot air balloon can stay in the air for longer than 24 hours as long as the temperature inside the balloon remains hotter than the surrounding air. However, it is not practical to keep a hot air balloon in flight for such a long period of time due to the limited fuel supply and other logistical considerations.

4. What happens if the hot air balloon runs out of fuel during the 24 hours?

If the hot air balloon runs out of fuel during the 24 hours, the temperature inside the balloon will decrease and the balloon will begin to descend. The pilot can use vents to release hot air and control the descent of the balloon. The balloon will eventually land safely on the ground.

5. How does wind affect a hot air balloon during the 24 hours?

Wind can affect the flight of a hot air balloon during the 24 hours. The direction and speed of the wind can determine the direction and speed of the balloon's flight. The pilot can use different altitudes to catch different wind currents and steer the balloon to the desired location. However, strong winds can also make it difficult to control the balloon and may require the pilot to land sooner than planned.

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