What happens to a balloon when you let it go? It can only go up so far?

Answer 1

there are good answers here already, but to summarize...

as the ballon rises, the pressure of the atmosphere around it decreases and so the balloon expands if it can expand. If it cannot expand, then it at least becomes more taught--it seems to be inflated more than it was at the surface. The balloon continues to rise until it reaches an equilibrium altitude and it is carried along by upper level winds. It should also be mentioned that if the ballon reaches a high enough altitude, the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere decreases greatly and this causes the helium in the ballon to contract, therefore becoming more dense and the balloon can begin to sink due to this effect until it is once again in equilibrium. If the balloon is darkly colored then during the day, there is a heating effect due to sunlight striking the skin of the balloon...the helium inside expands again causing a decrease in density. The ballon is able to remain at a higher altitude during the day due to this effect. Downdrafts and storms should also be taken into account. If ice builds up on the outside of the balloon then the balloon becomes much heavier and sinks. Eventually the helium leaks out of the balloon and it is no longer able to fly or "float". It's possible for such a balloon to stay aloft for over a week and travel several thousand miles--they can even potentially cross oceans in extreme cases. Other balloons may run into difficulties and travel only a few miles (or even less if trees get in the way before they get high enough)

Answer 2

The balloon will rise or fall until the pressure inside the balloon matches the pressure outside the balloon. Since the air gets thinner the higher you go, eventually even a helium balloon stops rising.

Helium is also a very small atom, so a helium balloon always leaks (at least if you're talking about the cheap balloons you buy at the carnival). As the helium leaks out, the weight of the rubber in the balloon begins to become a more significant factor, hence helium balloons always eventually come down somewhere.

Answer 3

As it rises, the pressure outside the balloon gets lower while the pressure inside stays constant. Since nature always attempts to find a balance, this makes the balloon expand till it pops.

Answer 4

I saw on Good Morning America yesterday morning a little girl in Michigan let a balloon go with a message wondering where it would land and it landed in Connecticut and they were joined together yesterday on TV.

Answer 5

My 10 year son let's them go on a regular basis alway with a note..maybe as many as 150 balloons..we have had one response 150 miles away..they called us to let us know they found it.

Answer 6

It pops after it goes up so high

Answer 7

it also goes throw the direction of wind.

Answer 8

it is called littering

it will come down somewhere else