God’s Faithfulness, the Atmosphere, and Hot Air Balloons

[Originally published as Hot Air Balloons, Algebra, & the Creator]

Hot air balloons have always fascinated me, and this last weekend I got a chance to see some up close. They’re huge—and it’s incredible to watch them float up and down by increasing or decreasing a flame of fire at the base.

But you know what’s even more amazing? The fact that day in and day out, the air in these balloons responds consistently to the heat from the flame used to control their movement. Let’s use math for a minute to look at some consistencies God both created and sustains in the atmosphere—consistencies that make hot air balloons possible.

Density & Temperature

For starters, there’s the Ideal Gas Law. This law is simply a way of describing the consistent relationship between the atmospheric pressure (P), the density of the air (ρ), the gas constant (R), and the temperature (T). Using letters to stand for each of these, we can describe the consistent relationship between them like this:^*

P = ρRT

Now, using algebra (which is based on creation operating so consistently that we can multiply, divide, etc., by equal quantities on both sides of the equation, and know it will work even if we don’t know the actual values), we can rearrange this equation like this:

ρ=P/(RT)

Now we know that the density of air (ρ)—how tightly packed the molecules are—depends on the atmospheric pressure (P), the gas constant (R), and the temperature (T). Since the atmospheric pressure and gas constant are constant for a specific area on earth, we can view them as constant values and realize that as the temperature (T) changes, the density (ρ) will too!

In other words, if we change the temperature inside the hot air balloon, it will change the density of the air inside that balloon (increasing temperature decreases the density, and vice versa). Why do we care? Well, let’s look at another consistency…

Buoyancy, Density, & Volume

The buoyancy force (the force that makes the balloon float) changes as the density of the air inside the balloon changes…meaning that we can use temperature to change a balloon’s ability to float! The buoyancy force (F_B) of a hot air balloon equals the difference between the density of the air outside of the balloon (ρ_a) and that inside (ρ), times the volume of the balloon (V), times the local acceleration due to gravity (g).

F_B=(ρ_a – ρ)Vg

Look at that equation and think about what would get a higher buoyancy force. The lower the density inside the balloon (ρ), the greater the force will be, as when we subtract it from the outside density (where the air is not being heated but staying relatively the same temperature), we’ll get a greater number to multiply by the volume and the acceleration due to gravity. Thus getting a lower density (which we do by heating up the air inside the balloon) gives the balloon a greater buoyancy force (which helps it float).

Now, there’s another variable that affects the balloon’s ability to float.  Look back at the buoyancy equation and notice the V, which stands for volume.

F_B=(ρ_a – ρ)Vg

The larger the volume (V), the greater the buoyancy force will be! So large balloons will float better than small ones (assuming you can evenly heat all the air inside to a temperature warmer than the outside air). And now you know why hot air balloons are so large!

(You might wonder how the g in the equation influences the buoyancy. The g in the equations depends on the consistent way God causes gravity to operate, so we can’t change it. It’s a fixed value—about 9 m/s^2 close to the surface of the earth.)

Getting the Balloon to Float

Besides the buoyancy force, the only other force acting on a balloon is the weight of the balloon, the basket, and anyone or anything in the basket. We can describe this force algebraically like this:

F_g=mg

where m is the total mass of the balloon, basket, and everything in the basket and g is again the local gravitational constant.

Once the air in the balloon has reached a temperature such that the buoyancy force is greater than the gravitational force, or F_B > F_g, the net force on the balloon will be upward and the balloon will start to rise. That’s why when we heat up the air in the balloon and it becomes less dense, making F_B > F _g, it rises in the air!

The Consistency of Creation & the Creator

Hot air balloons are one example of how men—using their God-given abilities—have utilized the consistencies God created and sustains around us to develop a useful device (in this case, a balloon that floats). But don’t miss the miracle of our ability to use hot air balloons.

We can only get in a hot air balloon with confidence because atmospheric pressure and buoyancy operates in a consistent way, day after day, year after year. While individual balloons may have different volumes, densities, masses, and forces, the relationship between them stays the same no matter what the individual values. Without the consistencies of creation, we would be unable to use hot air balloons. It’s this consistency of creation that makes modern science (and hot air balloons)–as well as algebra–useful.

Yet why is creation so consistent that we can describe how it will operate with letters and know that relationship will hold true, no matter the actual values we plug in?

The Bible gives us an answer: because of the biblical, consistent, faithful God. Jesus is faithfully upholding all things. We have a faithful Creator God.

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” Hebrews 1:3 (esv)