[ELI5] how do hot air balloons even work? How do they know where they’re going without steering?

Question

[ELI5] how do hot air balloons even work? How do they know where they’re going without steering?

In: 846

Answer 1

They don’t know where they’re going.

You check weather reports about the prevailing wind direction, and hope it doesn’t suddenly change. Or you test out different elevations and see which way the air is moving.