Hot Air Balloon Experimento #1 and #2

In the first experimento, we used a cup as the base to light barbecue sticks as our hot air balloon. It was a very primitive design for it was our first trial and the materials were scarce. It didn't fly or float in any manner. The base design for our balloon was set by this experiment, we must now work on the flame and on the base.

Reflection Questions ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ

1) How did I help to move this project forward for this particular step?

Pietro: I had the idea of the base design of a cup filled with wooden (flammable) sticks for a powerful and stable flame. This helped us kick start our first prototype of the epic experimento
Shin: I had the idea of placing sticks on the top of the plastic bag for more stability and surface area for the heat to act upon. I also had the idea of the combined use of strings and tape to create a strong support for the plastic cup base.

2) What insights or insightful questions did this step in the project uncover or generate?

We began questioning what type of material should be used for a base, we began questioning the thickness/size of the plastic bag that would act as the balloon, and we began questioning the size of the flame and the positioning (close or far away from the plastic bag)

3) What is my role on this team up for this step in the project?

Pietro: For the next step I will be the "pyromaniac", meaning I will be the one to decide on the flame's size and power as well as its positioning according the the plastic bag.
Shin: For the next step I will be the engineer and I will design a new base and balloon structure for our hot air balloon.

4) State and describe one action that I could improve upon to help my team and make my final product the best that it can be?

"I can have less rage when we fail and not step on the project or kick it into a pulp" (Pietro 2015). Shin would bring more materials for prototype #2 of the experimento and both of us will have more perseverance and do more trials upon the same idea.

5) How often are you meeting and will it be enough to make progress until the next deadline.

We are meeting once a week to discuss designs and materials. It will be enough to reach all the deadlines and at the end of this semester we will have revolutionized the hot air balloons with our amazing final product that will come out of the hard and unforgiving process of the Experimento.

What did you learn from your test run? What are your next steps to improve your device and push your project forward? Are you able to work on your project over the break?

Through this test run of Experimento Prototype #1 we learned that making this will be harder than we expected, but that won't stop us. The next steps we will take is to work on the design only, and after meticulous planning we will put our improved designs to work. Unfortunately we will only be able to meet twice during the break because Shin is going to Thailand.