you know how a helium balloon floats up when you let go of it? well can it reach space?
2006-11-03 11:29:13 · 15 answers · asked by Cat D 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
if your balloon were super super to the highest level so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so very very very very very strong.... as in... that it would survive at like zero pressure, your helium filled balloon would reach the outer space...
otherwise, it would'nt even reach the middle of the atmosphere..
2006-11-03 23:00:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The reason a helium balloon floats upwards when you let go of it from ground level is that the helium gas inside the balloon is less dense than the air outside the balloon. If we assume that the gas remained in the balloon long enough for it to reach the outer parts of the atmosphere (and the balloon didn't pop), at some point the air would become less dense than the gas inside the balloon (as air becomes less dense the higher you go up). At this point the balloon would cease rising and remain at that point.
2006-11-03 11:36:25 · answer #2 · answered by jayde 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An interesting question. It may depend on how full the balloon is with helium. The helium (which is much lighter than air at any given pressure) stretches the balloon and excludes enough (heavy) air to float upwards (like an air bubble from the bottom of the sea). As the balloon (air bubble) rises it expands. This stretches the rubber balloon even more displacing even more (less heavy) air with increased elevation. If the balloon does not become over stretched popping it, it will reach an elevation where the weight of the rubber plus helium exactly equals the weight of the air excluded by the balloon. The balloon will float there (partially submerged in the atmosphere) and will flow with the wind. helium can leak through the molecular chain pores of the rubber balloon even easier than hydrogen (because helium has more positively charged protons in its nuclei to 'suck in' its electrons closer than hydrogen making helium seem smaller. As the balloon loses helium, it will begin to drop down into denser air where it finds more support. It will eventually land kind of wrinkled if not scooped up by an airplane intake before that happens.
2016-03-28 06:02:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Space has been defined as begining at 100 kilometers or 60 miles. Balloons can reach altitudes well in excess of 100,000 feet.
Even though the highest altitude was 34,668 meters, according to the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, a zero-pressure balloon is capable of rising to an altitude of 140,000 feet (42,000 m).
The Physics Factbook™
Edited by Glenn Elert -- Written by his students
An educational, Fair Use website
This is 26 miles, far below space levels.
Hot air balloons rise because the hot air is less dense than the surrounding atmosphere. Gas balloons rise because the gas in the balloon is lighter than the surrounding air. As the balloon rises and the air gets thinner, the hot air or gas in the balloon also gets thinner.
If you look at pictures of research or manned balloons, they seem to be very long. This is all balloon. The extra length is space for the hot air or gas to expand into so it doesn't pop when it reaches high altitudes.
2006-11-03 16:25:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think so, since I believe space is defined as starting at some height like 65 miles or so, where there will still be some small fraction of atmosphere left. So if you had no limit on the elasticity of the balloon, it could continue to expand as the external pressure fell and eventually reach that height. Its a challenging materials problem though.
Obviously, it could not expand and rise into a perfect vacuum since there is no buoyant force to drive it.
2006-11-03 11:54:29 · answer #5 · answered by SAN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No! Unless it bursts before, it will be floating in the height where its density is equal to that of thinner atmosphere. So you cant hike into space on this balloon! It will be floating like a cork in the water.
2006-11-03 11:41:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, because when the balloon reaches a certain height it will pop.
2006-11-03 11:35:15 · answer #7 · answered by blue girl 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No The balloon would pop cause of pressure.
2006-11-03 11:33:43 · answer #8 · answered by jesusrocksmysocks02 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
nope
at the point that the atmostphere is "less dense" then helium...
It will stop... the balloon will never rise above a couple thousand feet.
2006-11-03 11:32:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
no. the balloon would just go up and up until the pressure of the atmosphere pops it.
2006-11-03 12:42:18 · answer #10 · answered by RONI Q 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋