Design Squad
What Is a Dirigible?
Clip | 35sVideo has Closed Captions
See how this steerable balloon uses buoyancy to stay afloat.
See how this steerable balloon uses buoyancy to stay afloat.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Design Squad
What Is a Dirigible?
Clip | 35sVideo has Closed Captions
See how this steerable balloon uses buoyancy to stay afloat.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Design Squad
Design Squad is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
A blimp, or a dirigible, is a propelled, steerable balloon that uses buoyancy to stay afloat.
The buoyant force is equal to the weight of the air that's displaced by the balloon.
Since the helium that fills the balloon weighs less than the air being displaced, the balloon has lift.
If a blimp is close to neutrally buoyant, meaning the entire structure has the same weight as the air it displaces, it will stay at the same height.
Support for PBS provided by: