How did the design of the *Montgolfière* balloon generate the necessary lift for ascent?
Answer
By heating the air inside the envelope, making it less dense than the surrounding air.
The *Montgolfière* functioned based on the fundamental physical principle that heated air expands and becomes significantly less dense compared to the ambient cooler air outside the balloon envelope. This difference in density created buoyancy, allowing the craft to rise. The roaring fire burning straw and dampening wool served to continuously reheat the air within the structure, maintaining the necessary temperature differential to counteract gravity and provide lift for the passengers.
Related Questions
Where did Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier launch their balloon carrying living creatures on September 19, 1783?Which trio of specific animals formed the scientific crew aboard the Montgolfier hot-air balloon during its first ascent with life?What was the principal scientific justification for including the sheep as a passenger in the wicker basket?What specific biological variable did the inclusion of the duck and cockerel aim to test regarding aerial ascent?How did the design of the *Montgolfière* balloon generate the necessary lift for ascent?What immediate scientific protocol did the Montgolfiers establish with the successful 1783 animal flight?Which specific individuals attended the Versailles flight to witness the ascent of the balloon carrying the sheep, duck, and cockerel?After traveling approximately two miles, where did the *Montgolfière* carrying the biological passengers safely conclude its descent?What materials were primarily utilized by the Montgolfiers to generate the necessary heat and smoke for inflation in early tests?What immediate implication did the verified survival of the sheep, duck, and cockerel have on the future of ballooning?