Festival Executive Producer Howard Freeman often provides age-appropriate lessons on hot air ballooning during our many community outreach programs. For all you “Mr. Wizards” out there, here’s this month’s Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning trivia question.
Today’s balloons are used primarily for two purposes: sport or scientific research. Sport balloons use propane to heat the air within the balloon. Scientific balloons generally use:
a) hydrogen b) helium c) methane d) ammonia e) all of the above
Today’s Balloons
While hot air balloons have been used for many purposes since their inception more than 200 years ago, balloons today are primarily used for either sport or for science. Sport balloons use propane to heat the air within the balloon. Balloons used in science generally use hydrogen, helium, methane or ammonia.