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<h1 align=center>EG1004 Lab 9: Hot Air Balloon</h1>
= Objectives =
The objective of this lab is to design and build a hot air balloon. This is a competition lab that will be judged by a ratio that uses time afloat, cost, and payload. In theory, the design should maximize the  non-structural weight (payload) that the balloon can lift and the time it can spend aloft while minimizing the balloon's structural weight and its cost. In practice, other design choices could also win the competition. Consider the components of the ratio and the rules before designing the balloon.


<h2>1 Objectives</h2>
= Overview =
Hot air balloons are  lighter-than-air aircrafts. They are widely used for recreation and advertising. Another example of this type of aircraft is the dirigible, which consists of a rigid steel frame with bags of light gas inside it that cause lift. Because of the weight of the frame in early dirigibles, an extremely light though flammable gas, such as hydrogen, was used. This led to safety problems, so dirigibles are no longer in service. A blimp is a lighter-than-air aircraft that is essentially a big helium balloon with engines attached. It does not have a structural frame like a dirigible. An aerostat is a blimp that does not have engines, but is attached to the ground. Aerostats are frequently used for advertising or finding a location. Aerostats are also used as weather stations and radar platforms since they can reach altitudes of up to 15,000 feet.


<p>The objective of this lab is to design and build a hot-air balloon. This is a competition
The NASA Balloon Program has been using high altitude scientific balloons as a platform for space and Earth science discoveries and technological innovation. A new design competition has launched to promote the research and development of better scientific balloons. The goal is to design the optimal balloon for maximizing the payload of scientific equipment it can carry and the time the balloon can remain in the air.
lab. Your design should maximize the amount of non-structural weight (the payload) that your
balloon can lift and the time it can spend aloft, while minimizing the balloon’s
structural weight and its cost. In designing your balloon you may wish to
make use of several concepts from physics, including the Ideal Gas Law,
and the Principle of Archimedes. </p>


<h2>2 Overview</h2>
The  Ideal Gas Law, gas density, the Principle of Archimedes, and Newton's Second Law of Motion explain why hot air balloons float.


<p>At Versailles on September 19, 1783, the French brothers, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne
== Ideal Gas Law and Gas Density ==
Montgolfier, loaded a sheep, a rooster, and a duck into the basket of their hot-air balloon and
Usually, when a gas is heated, it expands so the same mass has a larger volume and the density decreases. The expansion can be quite pronounced and a mass of warm air can be considerably less dense than an equal mass of cold air. This can be expressed quantitatively by using the Ideal Gas Law to describe the behavior of a gas. This law states:
untethered the ship for the entertainment of the King of France, Louis XVI.
They'd gotten the idea from watching hot embers rise and float above a fire.
Later, in November 1783, they launched the first manned balloon flight.<sup>1</sup></p>


<h3>Background Concepts</h3>
<math>PV = nRT\,</math>


<p>Usually, when an object is heated it expands. The same amount of mass occupies a larger volume
''P'' is the gas pressure, ''V'' is the volume of gas being considered, ''T'' is its absolute temperature, and ''n'' is the number of moles of gas.<br />The universal gas constant ''R'' has a value of 0.0821 <sup>L &middot; atm</sup>/<sub>mol &middot; K</sub>.
and therefore the density of the object decreases.
For gases, this is especially important because the expansion can be
quite pronounced, and a mass of warm air is considerably less dense than an
equal mass of cold air.</p>


<p>This idea can be expressed quantitatively by using the Ideal Gas Law to describe the behavior
Comparing two equal volumes of air at the same pressure, for example, a balloon filled with cold (ambient) air and one filled with an equal amount of warm air, the Ideal Gas Law predicts that the warmer balloon will contain fewer moles of gas so the warmer balloon will be lighter because the air inside it will be less dense.
of air. This law states that</p>


<p align=center><i>PV = nRT</i></p>
To rewrite the Ideal Gas Law in terms of density (''&rho;''), ''&rho; = <sup>P</sup>/<sub>RT</sub>'', and for a constant pressure and gas composition, even more simply


<p><i>where P is the gas pressure, V is the volume of gas being considered, T is its absolute
<math>\rho = \frac{C}{T}\,</math>
temperature and n is the number of moles of gas.</i></p>


<p> If pressure is measured in atmospheres, volume in liters, and temperature in Kelvin, the
where ''&rho;'' is the air density in <sup>kg</sup>/<sub>m<sup>3</sup></sub>, at temperature ''T'' in Kelvin. For a pressure constant at 1 atm, ''C'' is 347 <sup>K &middot; kg</sup>/<sub>m<sup>3</sup></sub>. (Obtained from dry air density of 1.164 <sup>kg</sup>/<sub>m<sup>3</sup></sub> at 20 &deg;C and 1 atm pressure: i.e., 293 K x 1.164 <sup>kg</sup>/<sub>m<sup>3</sup></sub>.)
universal gas constant <i>R</i> has a value of 0.0821 L atm/mol K.</p>


<p>Comparing two equal volumes of air at the same pressure (say a balloon filled with cold air
== Principle of Archimedes and Newton's Second Law of Motion ==
and one filled with an equal amount of warm air), the Ideal Gas Law predicts
The Principle of Archimedes explains why this difference in temperature and gas density leads to a tendency for warm air and hot air balloons to rise. The principle states that when a body is immersed in a fluid (a liquid or a gas), an upward force is exerted on the body that is equal to the weight of the fluid the body displaces. This upward force is called buoyancy.
that the warmer one will contain fewer moles of gas, so the warmer balloon will
be lighter because the air inside it will be less dense.</p>


<p>But why does this difference lead to a tendency for warm air (and hot-air balloons) to rise?
For a balloon containing air at the same temperature as its surroundings, the buoyancy force is balanced by the weight of the air in the balloon and there is no net force or effect. If the air is heated, it expands. It pushes out and so displaces the cooler, denser air around it. Because of this displacement, a net upward force is produced on the warm air mass, causing a tendency to rise. In a hot air balloon, the mass of warm air is trapped by the balloon's skin, allowing the difference between the buoyancy force and its weight to be harnessed if it exceeds the structural weight of the balloon and its payload.
The Principle of Archimedes provides an explanation. The Principle states that when a body is
immersed in a fluid (a liquid or a gas), an upward force is exerted on the body equal to the weight
of the fluid the body displaces.  This upward force is called buoyancy.</p>


<p>For a balloon containing air at the same temperature as its surroundings, the
The Principle of Archimedes can be expressed in an equation, which is more useful for engineering calculations.
buoyancy force is balanced by the weight of the air in the balloon and there is
no net force or effect. However, if the air is heated, it expands. It pushes out
and so displaces the colder ambient air. Because of the displacement of the colder, denser air, a
net upward force is produced on the warm air mass, causing it to tend to rise. In our hot-air balloon,
the mass of warm air is trapped by the balloon’s skin, allowing the difference between its buoyancy
force and its weight to be harnessed if it exceeds the structural weight of the
balloon and its payload.</p>


<p>With this background, think carefully about your design. What balloon shape will you use
From the definition of density (''&rho; ='' mass / volume ''= m / V''), Newton's Second Law of Motion (''F = ma''), and for the acceleration due to gravity (''a = g''), the gravity force on a volume of fluid is ''F = (m)(a) = (&rho;V)(g)''.
to minimize structural mass and to effectively capture and retain warm air as
you try to fill and launch your balloon? Think about how you will maximize
balloon volume and minimize surface area.  Cost is also an important concern. Carefully consider
weight,surface area, volume, material properties, and expense in your design process.</p>


<p>This lab is a competition. Your team's performance will be judged against the other teams
Due to Archimedes' Principle and the hotter fluid being at a lower density (''&rho;<sub>hot</sub>''), the net buoyant force can be obtained from the difference ''F<sub>net</sub> = (m<sub>amb</sub> g &ndash; m<sub>hot</sub> g)'', where ''m<sub>amb</sub>'' is the mass of the displaced ambient air and ''m<sub>hot</sub>'' is the mass of the air inside the hot air balloon. If this net buoyant force goes entirely to lift a payload (''m<sub>ideal</sub>'') it is,
in your section. The Balloon Competition Ratio will be used to measure the performance of each team</p>


<p align=center><math>\frac{TimeAfloat}{Cost}*Payload</math></p>
<math>F_{net} = m_{ideal}g = \left ( \rho_{amb} - \rho_{hot} \right )Vg \,</math>,


<p>You will be allowed three trials.</p>
Combining this equation with ''&rho; = C / T'' and [[Engineering Considerations|convenient approximations]], the maximum payload of an ideal hot air balloon is


<h2>3 Your Assignment</h2>
<math>m_{ideal} = \left ( 4.0 \tfrac{g}{m^3K} \right ) V \left ( T_{hot} - T_{amb} \right) \,</math>


<p><b><i>PowerPoint Presentation and Individual Lab Report (one report
If the actual hot air balloon mass is determined by ''m<sub>balloon</sub>'' &mdash; by weighing it before it is filled with hot air &mdash; then the maximum possible payload can be determined. i.e., ''payload<sub>real</sub> < m<sub>ideal</sub> &ndash; m<sub>balloon</sub>.
per student) </i></b></p>


<p>The following discussion points are to be addressed in the appropriate section of your lab report
== The Balloon Competition Ratio ==
and presentation:</p>
This lab is a competition. NASA will judge the design's performance against the other designs in the section. The balloon competition ratio will be used to measure the performance of each design.


<ul>
<math>\frac{TimeAfloat[s]}{Cost[$]} \times Payload\,</math>
<li>Describe the rules of the competition in your introduction. What consequences did the rules have for
your design decisions? Use the appropriate equations in your answer. You may do
this in a numbered list, but use full sentences please.</li>


<li>Explain the Ideal Gas Law and The Principle of
''Payload'' is the number of paperclips the design can lift. Time afloat is the elapsed time from when the balloon rises to when it returns to its starting position. Cost is the cost to build the balloon.
Archimedes. Make sure you include a definition and an example of each.</li>


<li>Discuss minimal design. Did you use all the
The design will be allowed three trials.
materials you purchased? Describe the importance of minimal design and explain
how you employed it in your design.</li>


<li>Describe your balloon's design. Explain the choices you made. Make sure you
= Competition Rules =
include a discussion of the materials you chose and why. Explain your team’s
The following rules must be observed at all times during the competition. Violation of any of these rules will result in the disqualification of the balloon:
strategy for winning the competition.</li>
* The TA must approve the design before it can be entered in the competition
* All the materials used in the design must be purchased
* Unused materials may not be returned for credit
* The maximum balloon volume is 1 m<sup>3</sup>
* Time aloft is the elapsed time from when the balloon rises from its initial height to when it sinks to that height
* If the balloon does not rise, the time aloft is zero
* The design is limited to three trials. Indicate the number of trials performed and the ratios in the Abstract of the lab report. The lab report should also show the results for each trial including dimensions, payload, estimated balloon volume, and competition results


<li>Describe how your design succeeded or failed. What
= Design Considerations =
choices could you have made to improve your final standing in the competition?</li>
* Which balloon shape best minimizes structural mass and effectively captures and retains warm air to fill and launch the balloon?
* How is balloon volume maximized and surface area minimized?
* Carefully consider weight, surface area, volume, material properties, and cost in the design process.


<li>Discuss how you would improve the ratio.</li>
= Materials and Equipment =
</ul>


<h2>4 Competition Rules</h2>
== Materials with Price List ==
<p>The following rules must be observed at all times during the competition. Violation
* Drawing paper: $0.10/sheet
of any of these rules will result in the disqualification of your balloon:</p>
* Tissue wrap: $0.10/sheet
* 8 ½ x 11 paper sheets: $0.05/sheet
* Kevlar string: $0.05/30cm
* Adhesive tape: $0.03/30cm
* Plastic straws: $0


<ul>
== Equipment Used ==
<li>The TA must approve your design before it can be entered in the competition.</li>
* Scissors
* A glue stick
* Paper clips
* A personal heater
* A stop watch
* A thermometer


<li>All the materials you use in your design must be purchased.</li>
= Procedure =
Construct a hot air balloon using the available materials. This lab is a competition. The design with the highest ratio of payload divided by cost multiplied by time afloat will be the winner.


<li>You may not return unused materials for credit.</li>
Sketch a preliminary design. The maximum balloon volume is 1 m<sup>3</sup>. Volume should be approximated and recorded on your lab notes.


<li>The Maximum Balloon volume is 1M<sup>3</sup>.</li>
The design must include an area near the bottom of the balloon where paperclips may be attached  to add payload during the competition phase of the lab. In addition, there must be an opening that will allow hot air to enter the balloon  when placed over the heater.


<li>Time aloft is defined to be the elapsed time from when the balloon rises from its
'''<span style="color: red">WARNING:</span> Turn the heater off when not in use. Otherwise, it will become extremely hot and possibly melt the balloons.'''
initial height to when it sinks to that height.</li>


<li>If the balloon does not rise, the time aloft is defined to be zero.</li>
When finished, have the sketch approved and signed by the lab TA. Construct the balloon using the materials that were selected. For the competition phase, a payload will be attached to the bottom of the balloon and it will be filled with hot air.


<li>You are limited to three trials.</li>
The lab work is now complete. Please clean up the workstation. Return all unused materials to the TA.
</ul>


<h2>5 Materials and Equipment</h2>
= Assignment =


<h3>Materials with Price List</h3>
== Individual Lab Report ==
<!--
:''For EG1004 sections, this report is '''optional''' and will count as a Bonus Lab Report if submitted. Extra credit will be applied to the PowerPoint presentation since the report is optional.''
:''For EGED sections, this report is '''required''' and will count as a regular lab report.''
-->


<ul>
Follow the lab report guidelines laid out in the page called [[Specifications for Writing Your Lab Reports]] in the ''Technical Communication'' section of this manual. The following discussion points should be addressed in the appropriate section of the lab report:
<li>Drawing Paper - $0.10/sheet</li>
* Discuss the importance of hot air balloons today
<li>Tissue Wrap - $0.10/sheet</li>
* Describe the rules of the competition in the Introduction. What consequences did the rules have on design decisions? In answering, use the appropriate equations
<li>8 ½ x 11 Paper Sheets - $0.05/sheet</li>
* Explain the Ideal Gas Law and the Principle of Archimedes. Include a definition and an example of each
<li>Kevlar String - $0.05/foot</li>
* Describe the balloon's design. Calculate the volume of the balloon (i.e., dimensions and calculation) to show compliance with the rules. Explain the design choices. Include a discussion of the materials chosen and why. Explain the strategy for winning the competition
<li>Adhesive Tape - $0.03/foot</li>
* Describe how the design succeeded or failed. What choices could have improved the balloon's final standing in the competition?
<li>Plastic Straws - $0</li>
* Discuss and elaborate how to improve the competition ratio for this design.
</ul>
* Suggest possible improvements in conducting the lab
* Include the spreadsheet with every balloon's results. Describe the results and  discuss other designs in the class


<H3>Equipment Used</H3>
{{Lab notes}}


<ul>
== Team PowerPoint Presentation ==
<li>Scissors</li>
The following discussion points must be addressed in the appropriate section of the presentation:
<li>Glue Stick</li>
* Describe the rules of the competition. What consequences did the rules have on design decisions? Use the appropriate equations in the answer.
<li>Paper Clips</li>
* Since one term in the competition ratio is cost, present the cost of the balloon. Use the page [[How to Show Cost Data in Presentations]] for instructions on how to do this.
<li>Personal Heater</li>
* Explain the Ideal Gas Law and the Principle of Archimedes. Include a definition and an example of each.
<li>Stop Watch</li>
* Were all materials purchased used?
</ul>
* Describe the balloon's design. Show the volume of the balloon (i.e., dimensions and calculation) to show compliance with the rules. Explain the design choices. Discuss the materials chosen and why they were chosen. Explain the strategy for winning the competition.
* Describe how the design succeeded or failed. What choices could have improved the balloon's final standing in the competition?
* Discuss how to improve the competition ratio.


<h2>6 Procedure</h2>
= Endnotes =
# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 2017. “Scientific Balloons.” Accessed 20 August 2017 from  https://www.nasa.gov/scientificballoons
{{Reflist}}


<p>Construct a hot air balloon using household materials. This
<!--{{Laboratory Experiments}}-->
lab is a competition. The team with the highest ratio of payload divided by
cost multiplied by time aloft will be declared the winner.</p>
 
<p>First, sketch your preliminary design. The maximum Balloon
Volume is 1M<sup>3</sup>. </p>
 
<p><i>Note: Your design must
include an area near the bottom of the balloon where paper
clips may be attached in order add weight during the competition phase of the
lab. In addition, there must be an opening that will allow the balloon to be
placed over the heater.</i></p>
 
<p><b><font color=#ff0000>WARNING:</font> Turn the heater off when you're done using it. Otherwise, it will
become extremely hot and possibly melt the balloons.</b></p>
 
<p> When you are finished, have your sketch approved and signed by the lab TA. Construct your
balloon using the materials you have selected.
For the competition phase, your team will attach weight to the bottom of
your balloon and hot air will be added. The winners are determined by the
Balloon Competition Ratio.</p>
 
<p align=center><math>\frac{TimeAfloat}{Cost}*Payload</math></p>
 
 
<p><i>Note:  An extra 10 points will be awarded to the
team with a first place finish. The second place team will receive 5 points. These
points will be added to your TA lab report grade.</i></p>
 
<p>Your lab work is now complete. Please clean up your workstation. Return all unused materials to your TA.</p>
 
<h2>Footnotes</h2>
 
<p><sup>1</sup> &quot;Montgolfier, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne&quot;&nbsp;<i>Britannica
Student Encyclopedia&nbsp;from</i> Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
http://www.search.eb.com.databases.poly.edu/ebi/article?tocId=9275924
[Accessed November 3, 2004].</p>
 
 
 
[[Main_Page | Return to Table of Contents]]

Latest revision as of 21:39, 5 September 2022

Objectives

The objective of this lab is to design and build a hot air balloon. This is a competition lab that will be judged by a ratio that uses time afloat, cost, and payload. In theory, the design should maximize the non-structural weight (payload) that the balloon can lift and the time it can spend aloft while minimizing the balloon's structural weight and its cost. In practice, other design choices could also win the competition. Consider the components of the ratio and the rules before designing the balloon.

Overview

Hot air balloons are lighter-than-air aircrafts. They are widely used for recreation and advertising. Another example of this type of aircraft is the dirigible, which consists of a rigid steel frame with bags of light gas inside it that cause lift. Because of the weight of the frame in early dirigibles, an extremely light though flammable gas, such as hydrogen, was used. This led to safety problems, so dirigibles are no longer in service. A blimp is a lighter-than-air aircraft that is essentially a big helium balloon with engines attached. It does not have a structural frame like a dirigible. An aerostat is a blimp that does not have engines, but is attached to the ground. Aerostats are frequently used for advertising or finding a location. Aerostats are also used as weather stations and radar platforms since they can reach altitudes of up to 15,000 feet.

The NASA Balloon Program has been using high altitude scientific balloons as a platform for space and Earth science discoveries and technological innovation. A new design competition has launched to promote the research and development of better scientific balloons. The goal is to design the optimal balloon for maximizing the payload of scientific equipment it can carry and the time the balloon can remain in the air.

The Ideal Gas Law, gas density, the Principle of Archimedes, and Newton's Second Law of Motion explain why hot air balloons float.

Ideal Gas Law and Gas Density

Usually, when a gas is heated, it expands so the same mass has a larger volume and the density decreases. The expansion can be quite pronounced and a mass of warm air can be considerably less dense than an equal mass of cold air. This can be expressed quantitatively by using the Ideal Gas Law to describe the behavior of a gas. This law states:

P is the gas pressure, V is the volume of gas being considered, T is its absolute temperature, and n is the number of moles of gas.
The universal gas constant R has a value of 0.0821 L · atm/mol · K.

Comparing two equal volumes of air at the same pressure, for example, a balloon filled with cold (ambient) air and one filled with an equal amount of warm air, the Ideal Gas Law predicts that the warmer balloon will contain fewer moles of gas so the warmer balloon will be lighter because the air inside it will be less dense.

To rewrite the Ideal Gas Law in terms of density (ρ), ρ = P/RT, and for a constant pressure and gas composition, even more simply

where ρ is the air density in kg/m3, at temperature T in Kelvin. For a pressure constant at 1 atm, C is 347 K · kg/m3. (Obtained from dry air density of 1.164 kg/m3 at 20 °C and 1 atm pressure: i.e., 293 K x 1.164 kg/m3.)

Principle of Archimedes and Newton's Second Law of Motion

The Principle of Archimedes explains why this difference in temperature and gas density leads to a tendency for warm air and hot air balloons to rise. The principle states that when a body is immersed in a fluid (a liquid or a gas), an upward force is exerted on the body that is equal to the weight of the fluid the body displaces. This upward force is called buoyancy.

For a balloon containing air at the same temperature as its surroundings, the buoyancy force is balanced by the weight of the air in the balloon and there is no net force or effect. If the air is heated, it expands. It pushes out and so displaces the cooler, denser air around it. Because of this displacement, a net upward force is produced on the warm air mass, causing a tendency to rise. In a hot air balloon, the mass of warm air is trapped by the balloon's skin, allowing the difference between the buoyancy force and its weight to be harnessed if it exceeds the structural weight of the balloon and its payload.

The Principle of Archimedes can be expressed in an equation, which is more useful for engineering calculations.

From the definition of density (ρ = mass / volume = m / V), Newton's Second Law of Motion (F = ma), and for the acceleration due to gravity (a = g), the gravity force on a volume of fluid is F = (m)(a) = (ρV)(g).

Due to Archimedes' Principle and the hotter fluid being at a lower density (ρhot), the net buoyant force can be obtained from the difference Fnet = (mamb g – mhot g), where mamb is the mass of the displaced ambient air and mhot is the mass of the air inside the hot air balloon. If this net buoyant force goes entirely to lift a payload (mideal) it is,

,

Combining this equation with ρ = C / T and convenient approximations, the maximum payload of an ideal hot air balloon is

If the actual hot air balloon mass is determined by mballoon — by weighing it before it is filled with hot air — then the maximum possible payload can be determined. i.e., payloadreal < mideal – mballoon.

The Balloon Competition Ratio

This lab is a competition. NASA will judge the design's performance against the other designs in the section. The balloon competition ratio will be used to measure the performance of each design.

Payload is the number of paperclips the design can lift. Time afloat is the elapsed time from when the balloon rises to when it returns to its starting position. Cost is the cost to build the balloon.

The design will be allowed three trials.

Competition Rules

The following rules must be observed at all times during the competition. Violation of any of these rules will result in the disqualification of the balloon:

  • The TA must approve the design before it can be entered in the competition
  • All the materials used in the design must be purchased
  • Unused materials may not be returned for credit
  • The maximum balloon volume is 1 m3
  • Time aloft is the elapsed time from when the balloon rises from its initial height to when it sinks to that height
  • If the balloon does not rise, the time aloft is zero
  • The design is limited to three trials. Indicate the number of trials performed and the ratios in the Abstract of the lab report. The lab report should also show the results for each trial including dimensions, payload, estimated balloon volume, and competition results

Design Considerations

  • Which balloon shape best minimizes structural mass and effectively captures and retains warm air to fill and launch the balloon?
  • How is balloon volume maximized and surface area minimized?
  • Carefully consider weight, surface area, volume, material properties, and cost in the design process.

Materials and Equipment

Materials with Price List

  • Drawing paper: $0.10/sheet
  • Tissue wrap: $0.10/sheet
  • 8 ½ x 11 paper sheets: $0.05/sheet
  • Kevlar string: $0.05/30cm
  • Adhesive tape: $0.03/30cm
  • Plastic straws: $0

Equipment Used

  • Scissors
  • A glue stick
  • Paper clips
  • A personal heater
  • A stop watch
  • A thermometer

Procedure

Construct a hot air balloon using the available materials. This lab is a competition. The design with the highest ratio of payload divided by cost multiplied by time afloat will be the winner.

Sketch a preliminary design. The maximum balloon volume is 1 m3. Volume should be approximated and recorded on your lab notes.

The design must include an area near the bottom of the balloon where paperclips may be attached to add payload during the competition phase of the lab. In addition, there must be an opening that will allow hot air to enter the balloon when placed over the heater.

WARNING: Turn the heater off when not in use. Otherwise, it will become extremely hot and possibly melt the balloons.

When finished, have the sketch approved and signed by the lab TA. Construct the balloon using the materials that were selected. For the competition phase, a payload will be attached to the bottom of the balloon and it will be filled with hot air.

The lab work is now complete. Please clean up the workstation. Return all unused materials to the TA.

Assignment

Individual Lab Report

Follow the lab report guidelines laid out in the page called Specifications for Writing Your Lab Reports in the Technical Communication section of this manual. The following discussion points should be addressed in the appropriate section of the lab report:

  • Discuss the importance of hot air balloons today
  • Describe the rules of the competition in the Introduction. What consequences did the rules have on design decisions? In answering, use the appropriate equations
  • Explain the Ideal Gas Law and the Principle of Archimedes. Include a definition and an example of each
  • Describe the balloon's design. Calculate the volume of the balloon (i.e., dimensions and calculation) to show compliance with the rules. Explain the design choices. Include a discussion of the materials chosen and why. Explain the strategy for winning the competition
  • Describe how the design succeeded or failed. What choices could have improved the balloon's final standing in the competition?
  • Discuss and elaborate how to improve the competition ratio for this design.
  • Suggest possible improvements in conducting the lab
  • Include the spreadsheet with every balloon's results. Describe the results and discuss other designs in the class

Remember: Lab notes must be taken. Experimental details are easily forgotten unless written down. EG1004 Lab Notes Paper can be downloaded and printed from the EG1004 Website. Use the lab notes to write the Procedure section of the lab report. At the end of each lab, a TA will scan the lab notes and upload them to the Lab Documents section of the EG1004 Website. One point of extra credit is awarded if the lab notes are attached at the end of the lab report. Keeping careful notes is an essential component of all scientific practice.

Team PowerPoint Presentation

The following discussion points must be addressed in the appropriate section of the presentation:

  • Describe the rules of the competition. What consequences did the rules have on design decisions? Use the appropriate equations in the answer.
  • Since one term in the competition ratio is cost, present the cost of the balloon. Use the page How to Show Cost Data in Presentations for instructions on how to do this.
  • Explain the Ideal Gas Law and the Principle of Archimedes. Include a definition and an example of each.
  • Were all materials purchased used?
  • Describe the balloon's design. Show the volume of the balloon (i.e., dimensions and calculation) to show compliance with the rules. Explain the design choices. Discuss the materials chosen and why they were chosen. Explain the strategy for winning the competition.
  • Describe how the design succeeded or failed. What choices could have improved the balloon's final standing in the competition?
  • Discuss how to improve the competition ratio.

Endnotes

  1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 2017. “Scientific Balloons.” Accessed 20 August 2017 from https://www.nasa.gov/scientificballoons