This picture to the left is a molecular view of what is going on inside the hot air balloon. We are following the yellow molecule as it bounces off of other molecules and the walls of the balloon. Since we now know that temperature is just a measure of the kinetic energy of molecules and that is related to how fast they are moving, lets consider what happens as we heat up the molecules in the balloon:

• As the temperature is increased,will the distance traveled by the yellow molecule change before it leaves the balloon?
• Will the time before the yellow molecule leaves the balloon change as the temperature is increased?
• In general, then, will the rate at which molecules leave the balloon change when the temperature is increased?
• Given this, will the number of molecules in the balloon change as the temperature is increased?
• If one leaves the balloon at an elevated temperature long enough, will all of the molecules go out?