How to Make a Hot Air Balloon Part 4 Materials Needed

IMPORTANT UPDATE: By far the biggest problem with this project is finding bags that are thin enough. Most garbage bags sold through retail are much too thick and heavy. Until now the best I could do was suggest talking to janitors of offices who have access to very thin bags, or thin dry cleaning bags. However, Richard Brown, a math/science teacher at Watertown High School in Connecticut, informed me of a widely distributed bag that worked for him. Look for Ruffies 8 gallon Color Scents (they smell like vanilla) at department stores (at least in North America--people from other continents please let us know where you've found thin bags). If you Google it you can see what retail outlets sell them near you. At 8.9 microns the bags are half again as thick as the thin bags I use, but Rich got them to fly (you might have to use a fifth candle).

Links to the whole series and other science projects at http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/ This is Part 4 of 6 parts.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• make
• hot
• air
• balloon
• plastic
• trash
• bag
• candle
• science
• project

[TheEvilEye5]

Will .50 Mil. work?

[sciencetoymaker]

@TheEvilEye5 I don't know. Try it!

[born4volleyball888]

can you use like a newspaper bag?

[sciencetoymaker]

@born4volleyball888 I doubt it. It sounds small, which is inherently less efficient.. In Part 6 I discuss various alternative plastic bags, including smaller bags.

Slater

[Pujc]

with more candle gain the lifting power but the weight too. Nice vid! Good job kids :)

[252yomama]

Omg! This video is soooo awesome. Were doing the same thing and this is so usefull

[LUMISgh3]

ty so mush, this was what i was looking for !

[Bee23Dee]

Will if work if you make the tissue paper balloon?

I want to test it out with my students, but we are so limited on time.

[M1lesPerHour]

4 candles lol



[datdamndavisboy]

great video for a bunch of kids

[TheVincentTower]

Good job kids! I built 4 of them without a problem using your directions. I hope you got an A+ lol

[sciencetoymaker]

@boberto322 I doubt it if it's like a grocery bag.

Slater

[boberto322]

@sciencetoymaker what about a walmart bag will it work