Hot Air Affair

 

The Hudson Hot Air Affair is the premier winter ballooning event and winter festival in the Midwest.  Thousands of visitors head to Hudson, the first full weekend in February.  Here are some fun facts abot the Hot Air Affair you can share with your students:

• About 35 colorful hot air balloons, including special shaped balloons participate in the Hot Air Affair.
• The largest number of balloons was 56, and the fewest number was 2 (due to bad weather).  
• Balloonists traditionally come from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northa nd South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska.  
• Balloons have included Garfield, a chicken dinosaur, stagecoach, bulldog, Smokey Bear, Wally the Clown Fish, a rubber ducky, penguin, United Van Lines truck, Pepsi can, Uncle Sam, and Peg Leg Pete the Pirate Parrot Balloon. 
• The event began in 1990, organized and sponsored by the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce.  
• No hot air balloons rides are sold.

Fun Facts About Hot Air Balloons:

1. The hot air balloon is the oldest form of flying technology that can successfully carry people.  The earliest use of hot air to make objects fly was made in Ancient China, with paper lanterns sent into the air for signaling.
2. The first hot air balloon to carry a person was in 1783, in Paris.  THe passengers were a sheet, duck, and rooster and was attached to the ground by a rope.  The first free flight, with people, was a few weeks later.
3. How does it work?  The air is made up of molecules,  When the air is cold, these molecules are closer together.  When the air is hot, they move away from each other.  So, in the same space, there are fewer molecules in hot air.  Hot air is therefore lighter than cold air, which makes it rise and carry up the balloon when the air inside it is heated.  
4. Hot Air balloons can carry more weight on a cold day, which is why the Hot Air Affair is in February.  The winds are typically calmer, too.
5. The air inside the balloon is heated with a burner, which uses bursts of fire to keep the air hot.  The fire is fueled by propane.  The heated air is kept inside the balloon by its fabric.  This is called the "envelope" and is usually made of nylon.
6. The basket is usually made of wicker, and can come in many sizes.  A large balloon can carry up to 36 people!

Videos to watch:

How Do Hot Air Balloons Work? (SciShow Kids) - gr. 2-5 (3:50)

How Do Hot Air Balloons Work? (Thinking Captain) - gr. K-5 (2:27)

What is a Hot Air Balloon? (Science for Kids) - gr. K-5 (1:30)

Hot Air Balloon (Things that Go TV!) - gr. K-1 (1:40)

How Hot Air Balloons Work (HowStuffWorks) - gr. 2-5 (1:12)