Fifty Foot Solar Balloon Turns Play Time into Learning Time

The fifty foot giant bag is the ultimate in solar powered fun. Simply fill the bag with air and tie closed. Set it in the sunshine where it can absorb heat, and in about five minutes, the bag is up in the floating, without the use of any helium. It is a furnace-free hot air balloon! The solar balloon demonstrates not only the power of solar energy but also some principles of physics. The fun starts when the experiments begin.

For the best result, conduct your experiments in the morning when wind is usually less likely to be a factor. You will want to tether it to something if you plan on reusing the bag for other experiments as it can and will continue to rise as the air inside becomes warmer and lighter.

Here are some NASA style experiments:

• All About Air - use the bag to demonstrate the principles of air movement.
• Why Hot Air Rises - demonstrate the different properties of gases.
• Flight - use the bag to discuss how climate conditions affect flight.
• Space Travel - teach the effects of atmospheric power (may require additional accessories to the balloon in the form of expensive instruments).
• Weather Wonders - simulate NASA's experiments by giving the balloon a payload. Use different recording devices attached to the balloon to monitor temperature, humidity and other climate conditions.
• Mission to Mars - learn how NASA and Jet Propulsion laboratories used the solar bag to test their mission to Mars solar inflation devices. This helps to power the equipment that NASA places on Mars.

No matter what you do with your giant 50' solar bag, you will be amazed by the results of a simple piece of thin plastic, some air and the effects of solar energy collection.