or would it get blown away by the solar wind
2006-10-09 02:01:50 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Helium gas alone is capable of escaping the earth's atmosphere. However, a balloon filled with the gas would not.
There are two considerations. Firstly, the lift in a balloon is created by having lighter (less dense) gas inside than on the outside. As you go up in the atmosphere the outside pressure decreases. This decrease will mean that the density difference between inside and outside the balloon will reduce and eventually vanish. The balloon will then no longer rise.
Secondly, temperature drops as you go up in the atmosphere. This will cause the gas inside the balloon to shrink and become more dense. This will also reduce the density difference between inside and outside and the balloon will no longer rise. As the pressure will be reduced inside the balloon it would not be expected to burst.
So, no, it wouldn't escape from Earth.
2006-10-09 02:28:39 · answer #1 · answered by Vanguard 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. It could never leave the atmosphere. As the atmosphere thins, air pressure decreases, and thus, the pressure of the helium inside the balloon increases. If the balloon simply rose because there was no wind, the balloon's internal pressure would simply cause it to pop.
Most balloons, however, get caught in wind currents and are pushed along until defects in the balloon cause it to loose helium and descend to earth -- sometimes thousands of miles away.
2006-10-09 02:07:52 · answer #2 · answered by Jack 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would pop once it got really high in the atmosphere. The air pressure would change on the outside of the balloon and make it pop from the pressure of the helium on the inside.
Also if the sun is shining and it's really hot outside the balloon could pop from the heat.
2006-10-09 02:10:22 · answer #3 · answered by songbird 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would find its place in the stratosphere. The size of the balloon will determine the altitude that it will achieve. The weight of the balloon material will ultimately keep it from leaving the atmosphere.
2006-10-09 02:06:31 · answer #4 · answered by FrogDog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no it would not go to the sky because when it even got close to the sun the heat and strong winds would make it pop
2006-10-09 02:10:22 · answer #5 · answered by W.I.C.K.E.D. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont think so homey! It would burst as soon as it reached an altitude where the pressure was too low!
2006-10-09 02:05:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
after it got so high, it would probably pop because of the air pressure around it getting lower as it goes up. i listened in science!
2006-10-09 02:06:09 · answer #7 · answered by twirlsgurl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no it wouldn't, when it comes to a certian hight there is so little pressure around the baloon it expands too much and pops
2006-10-09 02:06:05 · answer #8 · answered by maikellysummit 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but could only get real near it at night.
2006-10-09 04:02:12 · answer #9 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. pressure will get lower and lower until it bursts.
2006-10-09 02:09:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋