If all the helium is removed from a storage tank (think of the tanks used to fill balloons), will the tank be heavier or lighter than it originally was?
2006-06-13 08:09:57 · 7 answers · asked by imhomersimpson 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
The tank will be heavier empty of helium than it would be filled with helium. An empty tank would be filled with air, which is mostly Oxygen and Nitrogen, and thus would have a higher atmoshphere than a full tank of Helium. It would take roughly 3.6 atmospheres of Helium to equal 1 atmosphere of air.
2006-06-13 08:36:58 · answer #1 · answered by Jaguarxj 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Lighter. When the tank is full the helium is compressed, which actually makes it almost sticky. It returns to a gas when the pressure is released. Try putting your hand in front of the nozzle and releasing some of the gas. Your hand will feel damp only for a short period of time.
2006-06-13 11:49:17 · answer #2 · answered by timothy m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The tank itself will always have the same mass, regardless of whether or not it has any helium in it or not. Since mass is directly related to weight, the tank itself will always have the same weight. BUT with a full load of helium, raising the tank and its helium contents will be easier.
2006-06-13 08:14:49 · answer #3 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lighter. Since the helium in the tank is highly compressed, it weighs more than the empty container.
2006-06-13 08:14:41 · answer #4 · answered by davidmi711 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the tank will be heavier because the air replacing the helium will wiegh more unles the tank bcame a vacume with no air then it would be lighter
2006-06-13 08:15:29 · answer #5 · answered by bob b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LIghter. Matter is removed from the tank, matter has mass.
2006-06-13 08:14:40 · answer #6 · answered by rt11guru 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
helium is weightless so the tank would weigh the same as it did when it was in there.
2006-06-13 08:17:25 · answer #7 · answered by MIKEY 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋