Ballooning Aerodynamics

Ballooning aerodynamics refers to how a hot air balloon ascends and stays afloat by manipulating the physics of air flow and pressure. When the air inside the balloon is heated, it becomes less dense than the cooler surrounding air, creating an upward buoyant force—similar to how a boat floats on water. The pilot controls altitude by adjusting the temperature of the air inside the balloon: heating it makes the balloon rise, cooling causes descent. The design of the balloon’s shape and material influences how efficiently it moves through the air, but overall, buoyancy and air temperature differences are the main factors enabling flight.