[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

Here’s the FAA’s ‘textbook’ for prospective balloon pilots: https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/FAA-H-8083-11.pdf

Warm air is less dense. Things float in fluids when they are less dense due to buoyancy. Hot air balloons have basically up and down controls.

Balloons can also be tethered to the ground with a rope.