Floating and Sinking: Hot Air Balloons

No two materials are identical. Some of the differences between them are visible, such as the sparkle of a quartz crystal compared to the dull finish of a lead bar. Other differences can be felt when we pick up two objects or can be determined more specifically by measuring the objects.

For example, an iron bar with the same dimensions as a wooden stick will weigh significantly more than the stick; it will have more mass. Although the two objects take up the same amount of space (they have the same volume), because one has more mass than the other, they must be composed differently inside.

The difference between two such objects is their density. The density of a material is determined by dividing an object's mass by its volume. This means that the greater the mass of a given volume of material, the higher the material's density.

For some materials, density remains almost fixed, regardless of environmental conditions. A block of steel, for example, has nearly the same density, whether it is at sea level or at an altitude of 3000 meters, and whether it is cooled to 0 degrees Celsius or warmed to 100 degrees Celsius. Since its volume barely changes when warmed that much, its density also stays almost the same.

In contrast, the density of gases varies dramatically under different environmental conditions. At higher temperatures, gas molecules move more rapidly and bump into each other more frequently. If maintained at same pressure while they are heated, they will expand, and decrease in density. The difference in the density of warm air inside a balloon and cool air outside the balloon causes a hot air balloon to rise and float.

• Why do helium balloons rise in air? Why does oil sit on top of water?
• Why do hot air balloons float? What property remains the same?
• What do you think would happen if you added four people to the hot air balloon at the end of the interactive activity?
• Now, using what you know about hot air balloons and density, describe why boats float.