Does a full helium tank weigh less than a full tank?

Answer 1

No, because the helium is condensed and then becomes heavier than air. Before that, the tank would have been a vacuum, with nothing in it at all. That nothing has less mass than ANY amount of helium and would then weigh less. Your question stems from the fact that helium is lighter than air, which is true only as long as helium maintains a density that is less than that of normal air. In a tank this isn't true. In a balloon it is. Still, there is more mass in a full baloon than an empty baloon, there is only the fact that the mass inside displaces more weight in air than it does weight in helium, and therefore floats.

Try and remember the difference between Mass and Weight.

Mass is the amount of matter in a given object or volume, weight is the amount of downward force that gravity exerts upon that mass.

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Answer 2

Empty Helium Tank

Answer 3

If you just replaced the air in the tank with helium and it was under ambient pressure (the same pressure in the tank as outside) then it would be lighter. However, let's assume that you want to get this helium out -- to fill balloons and to inhale for your famous Donald Duck impression. Then you're going to need to pack this tank with helium under pressure. Helium is so very light because (under atmospheric pressure) a very small amount of mass takes up a very large amount of space in each helium atom. If you put helium under pressure then you are increasing the amount of mass per volume. In other words you are shoving more stuff into the tank. This stuff is what causes the tank to gain weight. If you apply enough pressure helium can weigh more than lead!

Answer 4

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Let us assume there are three tanks all at the same temperature. One if full of helium, one is full of air. They are both at the same internal pressure. The third tank is completely empty of any molecules and therefore has an internal pressure of zero absolute. The tank full of air would weigh the most, the tank without any molecules in it and at an internal pressure of zero absolute would weigh the least and the tank filled with helium would have a weight between the other two. Does this clarify the answer for everyone?

Answer 5

This question is not complete. Does a full helium tank weigh less than a full tank... of what?

It will depend on the substance and its specific volume.

One way to find the specific volume (if it's an ideal gas) would be the ideal gas formula.

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/specvol.html

Answer 6

Depends:

If the pressure is the same (lets say 1 atmosfere or 1 bar) then there are 2 options:

1) If this tank is empty (has no air or any other gas inside) it will be lighter than helium.
2) If there is air in the tank it will be heavier, since air at 1 bar is heavier than helium at 1 bar (air is almost 10 times heavier than helium)

But if you put liquid helium in the tank it will be much heavier than an empty tank. :)

Answer 7

A "full helium tank" weighs exactly the same as a "full helium tank."

Answer 8

compressed helium is very dense. It is not buoyant when it is denser than the air it is sitting in. Unless it is depressurized, it will not float above air.

and of course, as stated above,
A "full helium tank" weighs exactly the same as a "full helium tank."

Answer 9

You mean more tan an EMPTY tank? No!! It weighs more when full than when empty!

Answer 10

it's not the weight that makes helium rise, it's the density