nPostednJune 5, 2013
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nTodaynwe celebrate a very brave pig, duck and rooster!
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nThenthree creatures took the world’s very first hot-air balloon ride onnthis date in 1783. They all did just fine, health-wise, although manynthought they would run out of oxygen going so high in the sky!
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nWenprobably should also credit the Montgolfier brothers, Joseph andnEtienne, since they were the ones who built up to this experimentnwith smaller balloons, they were the ones who created the hugenglobe-shaped balloon out of sackcloth and paper, and they were thenones who plunked the farm animals into the hot air balloon’s basket!
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Itnis hard to believe that the heavy (500 pounds, or 225 kg) balloon,nwith its 1,800 buttons and a fish net of cord, actually rose morenthan 6,000 feet (2,000 m) into the air and stayed aloft for 10nminutes! Nowadays hot-air balloons are made of rip-stop nylon ornpolyester treated with coatings to withstand ultraviolet light. Theynare usually made of 1200 to 1500 square yards of fabric, 2,500 feetnof tape, and 6-8 miles (miles!)nof thread. Modern balloons generally weigh between 200 and 350npounds—a lot lighter than the Montgolfiers’ balloon. But the basketnand fuel tanks add another 400 or so pounds, and that first balloonndid not have fuel tanks.
Itnis hard to believe that the heavy (500 pounds, or 225 kg) balloon,nwith its 1,800 buttons and a fish net of cord, actually rose morenthan 6,000 feet (2,000 m) into the air and stayed aloft for 10nminutes! Nowadays hot-air balloons are made of rip-stop nylon ornpolyester treated with coatings to withstand ultraviolet light. Theynare usually made of 1200 to 1500 square yards of fabric, 2,500 feetnof tape, and 6-8 miles (miles!)nof thread. Modern balloons generally weigh between 200 and 350npounds—a lot lighter than the Montgolfiers’ balloon. But the basketnand fuel tanks add another 400 or so pounds, and that first balloonndid not have fuel tanks.n
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n(Surprisinglynenough, the pig, duck and rooster just stood around and tolerated thenflight; they did not steer or reheat the air!)
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nWhatnmakes a hot air ballon rise?
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nYounprobably already know that hot air rises. If you have ever been in antwo-story house, you’ve surely noticed that upstairs gets very stuffynon a hot day, Or that cooling the air of the upper story can cause ansort of waterfall of cool air pouring downstairs in the stairwell.
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nThisnis because heat causes the various molecules in the air to jigglenmuch, much faster, and they spread out more. As the air inside thenhot air balloon heats up, the balloon seems to inflate as the airninside becomes warmer and warmer and expands more and more.nEventually the balloon becomes so full of low-density air that itnrises—carrying up the basket and any passengers. n
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Younknow, passengers like a honeymoon couple. Or sightseers and adventure junkies.nAnd your occasional pig!
Younknow, passengers like a honeymoon couple. Or sightseers and adventure junkies.nAnd your occasional pig!n
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nCheck it out…
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nHere is a YouTube video that shows a sort of homemade hot-air balloon. (Don’t try this at home without adult consent!)
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nBynthe way…
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nItnmay not have been a pig, a duck, and rooster that took that firstnflight.
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nItnmay have been a sheep, a goat, and a duck…or maybe a sheep, a duck,nand a rooster. I cannot seem to find any two websites that agree! Butnit is always three animals, and they are always barnyard animals.) n
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Celebrate!
Celebrate!n
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nIf you cannot spend the time or money on a hot-air balloon flight, checknout these ideasnfor cookies and centerpieces and cupcakes to celebrate the day!
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nAlsonon this date:
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Apple II Day
Apple II Day n
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nConstitutionnDay in Denmark
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nBirthdaynof the inventor of the hologram, Dennis Gabor
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest pages on Junenholidays, historicalnanniversaries in June,nand Junenbirthdays.
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