Ask an Explainer
Q:
What is the difference between hot air balloons and parachutes?
A:
Hot air balloons are able to rise and fall thanks to hot air. Hot air is less dense than cold air, so it rises, and carries the hot air balloon up with it. This is thanks to buoyancy.
Parachutes can only be used to slow someone's decent. They play on air resistance, or drag, to slow down someone's fall. They cannot be used to go back up again.
Posted on June 9, 2015 at 9:06 pm
Categories: