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Volume Calculations for Cylinder
Shaped Model
Hot air Balloons Homemade Plastic Bag Model Hot Air Balloons are generally shaped like pillowcases. To calculate volumes, they can be compared with classic cylinders. Here a balloon is imagined as a stack of circles, or ovals, with a top. The volume is equal to the average area of the ovals, multiplied by an "Effective Height," which accounts for the material at the top of the balloon. The simplest way to calculate areas for circles and ovals is to compare them with squares. The perimeter is the most elegant geometric measurement.The quarter-perimeter though is usually more practical to use. NOTE: If the Perimeter of a circle, ie. its circumference, is divided by its diameter, the result is 3.1416..., or Pi. So, the Perimeter / 2 Pi equals the radius. Similarly, 2 * Quarter-Perimeter / Pi also equals the radius. Area of a Square = Quarter-Perimeter ^ 2 (ie. the square of one of the sides) Area of a Square = Perimeter ^2 / 16 Area of a Circle = Pi * Radius ^2 = Pi * ( 2 * Quarter-Perimeter / Pi ) ^2 = 1.273 * Quarter-Perimeter ^ 2 ( ie. 4/Pi) Area of a Circle = Pi * ( Perimeter / 2 * Pi ) ^2 = Perimeter ^2 / 12.566 ( ie. 4 * Pi ) ( ie. 16 / 1.273) So, with equal perimeters, circles have around 27% more area than squares.Moderate ovals have around 20% more area than squares, and wide ovals have around 15% more area. So, ovals have around 5 - 10% less area than circles. What if the scale changes? Twice the perimeter
gets four times the area. Four times the perimeter gets sixteen times
the
area. So the change in area equals the square of the change in
perimeter.
Basically scale and measurement are the same thing. . . . .
. .
Table for Approximating Balloon Volumes The following table assumes that balloons are round. To account for the material at the top of the balloon, and derive an "Effective Height," the presumed radius is subtracted from the "Material Height." In reality, this overcompensates. But it does offset for a small amount of tapering and ovalness. It would be more accurate to subtract around 80% of the radius.NOTE: The table is set up to be mathematically
consistent, not
to correspond directly to actual balloon volumes. To adjust for
highly
oblong balloons, volumes can be discounted by 5-10%. To adjust
for
tapering, half-perimeters can be discounted. So, in general,
assume
the calculations to over-approximate actual finished balloon volumes by
up to several cubic feet.
Table for Suggested Number of Candles for Different Sized Balloons *Classic Dry Cleaner Bag
Balloon
(Typically
powered
by around twenty birthday candles) As described, a balloon's "Effective Height" is approximated by subtracting its presumed radius from its "Material Height." Since more width increases the radius, the different balloons are not really in scale with each other. Blimp shaped balloons can be calculated as either tipped over cylinders, or as short fat cylinders.Either way the volume calculations are fairly close to each other. In both cases, to account for the extra ovalness and tapering, the volume should be discounted more than for rounder balloons. To summarize, if a balloon is made wider, and its effective height stays the same, the volume changes by the square of the increased width. If a balloon is made taller, and the width stays the same, the volume change is the same as the increased height. NOTE: The Area to Volume Ratio is used to approximate a balloon's weight per cubic foot, based on its material weight. For lightweight Plastic Balloons, this is usually not much of an issue. For heavier Paper Balloons though, this ratio is very important in evaluating a balloon's overall aerostatic potential. Geometry of Scaling -- For Dimension, Volume and Surface AreaChange in Volume = Change in Dimensions ^ 3 Change in Volume = Change in Surface
Area ^
1/2
^ 3 = Change in Surface Area ^ 3/2 NOTE: Mathematically, "Powers are Powered" by multiplying the exponents times each other. The formulas can be demonstrated, by alternately
doubling the dimensions, the surface area and the volume:
Doubling the dimensions increases the surface area by four times (ie. 2^2) and increases the volume by eight times (ie. 2^3). Doubling the surface area increases the dimensions by 1.414 times (ie. 2^1/2) and increases the volume by 2.828 times (ie. 2^1/2^3 or 2^3/2). Doubling the volume increases the dimensions by 1.26
times ( ie. 2^1/3) and increases the surface area by 1.587 times Summary: A range of changes in dimensions, area and volume can be calculated from the following table:
Also, numbers can be multiplied times each other by adding their exponents. They can be divided by subtracting their exponents. For balloon mathematics this application is not really used. But it is important to know anyway, to understand how exponents work. As examples, 1.189 times1.682 and 1.26 times 1.587 are both equal to one. Other numbers besides two can also be used as the base for a geometric sequence, including those on the Two Scale. As example, if four is used, each exponent gets half its previous power. If the square root of two is used, ie. 1.414, then each exponent gets double its previous power, etc. Hence scales can be shrunk or enlarged and still be compared to the Two Scale. Alternately, any other number, definite or indefinite,
except for zero, can be set up as the base, with the changes calculated
relative to it.This can be done simply by declaring that a
certain value is now to be considered as equivilent to one "unit." NOTES ON TERMINOLOGY: 1) Saying 2^1/2 (power) is the same as saying the square root of two. Saying 2^1/3 (power) is the same as saying the cube root of two, etc. Technically the term "root" refers to the specific number which when multiplied by itself a certain number of times yields the starting number. Hence saying the half root of two would technically seem to mean 2^2 (power). Hence, the term "root" is avoided here, except as a shorthand way of referring to the 1/2 and 1/3 powers. 2) As a general concept, or in groups, the
term "power" is usually called an "exponent." Similarly, a "powered
function"
is usually referred to as an "exponential equation." This wording
convention is probably used because using the word "power" outside of
the
specific context of raising a number to a power might tend to get
confusing. NOTES ON SCALING CONCEPTS: Sometimes model designers use a Base Three Scale, ie. 3, 9, 27, 81, etc. From here combinations of the two and three scales can be used to create a Double Scale. Hence, using a Single or Double Scale System the simplest scales are: ( 1.414 )23468912 16 18242732 36 48 54 64 7281 96 108 128 144 ... People who build models might recognize
some of these numbers. On a practical level though, only the
smaller
scales would actually be used. But why bother to use numbers
along
the so-called alternate scales sequence?. Basically because the
calculations
tend to work out more evenly, and comparisons are easier to make, so
the
models are simpler to design, test and manufacture. By Thomas
Taylor
-- balloons@overflite.com
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