Best way to make a mini hot air balloon?

Question

Okay, so we need to make a plastic bag (Trash bag) rise up in the air with the use of fire hanged with on to the plastic.

I've already tried it, but it seems to fail... I need it to rise at least 2 stories high...

Any kind of suggestions will be accepted... Just help me!!!

Answer 1

A single trash bag may be too heavy for the volume of hot air required to lift both it and the fire/fuel package to this height.

However, these web sites may help you:

http://www.overflite.com/

http://www.modelballoon.com/

http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_as...

Answer 2

I've done it with a tissue paper balloon (but left the heat source behind)- from what I remember, it's a case of having some thin wire around the base that enables it to hold it's shape (keeping it away from your heat source), narrows it slightly (to avoid the hot air leaking out) & serves as a weight to keep the thing right way up.

We held the balloons over the heat source (weapon-grade hair-dryer) as it inflated & let go...