💨 Not All Balloons Float
If you blow up a balloon with your breath, it’s filled with air.
Air is not lighter than the air around us, so the balloon will fall to the ground.
🎈 Helium Balloons Rise Up
When a balloon is filled with helium, something special happens.
- Helium is lighter than the air we breathe.
- Because it’s lighter, a helium balloon floats upward in the heavier air around it.
That’s why party balloons on strings try to fly away!
🔥 Hot Air Balloons Float Too
Hot air balloons don’t use helium. They use air — but they heat it up.
- A flame warms the air inside the balloon.
- Hot air is lighter than the cooler air outside.
- Because it’s lighter, the whole balloon lifts off the ground.
🌟 Quick Facts
- Air‑filled balloons fall because they’re not lighter than the air around them.
- Helium balloons float because helium is lighter than air.
- Hot air balloons float because warm air rises.
- Things float when they are lighter than the air around them.
