air? Any help would be great. Thanks!
2006-11-28 09:52:29 · 6 answers · asked by taxloop 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Helium molecules are very small and slowly leak through the balloon wall.
Air contains a mixture of gaseous molecules, primarily Nitrogen and Oxygen. These are much larger than Helium.
2006-11-28 09:53:41 · answer #1 · answered by Plasmapuppy 7 · 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.
2016-05-22 23:21:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is due to lack of diffusion, the lighter-than-air helium feels the need to diffuse to the air on the outside, and the helium particles are moving fast, so they can break through the latex of the balloon.
2006-11-28 09:56:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Helium is a tiny little molecule that tends to escape through the walls of balloons, causing them to become non-boyant and sad. Normal rubber balloons usually die overnight, while the more expensive "mylar" balloons (which aren't really mylar at all, but usually a nylon/polyethylene double-layer film) gradually lose their helium over the space of a couple of weeks, become shrunken and ill before finally sinking to the ground, dead.
2006-11-28 09:55:23 · answer #4 · answered by Steven A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the particles in helium leak through the sides
PS im no scientist (but pretty good at science)
2006-11-28 09:55:50 · answer #5 · answered by dogluvbaby! 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Gas
2006-11-28 09:54:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋