2007-01-25 06:14:10 · 8 answers · asked by Unoptrid1aq 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Bouyancy inside the balloon in the form of heat, hydrogen, helium makes it float.
This bouyancy must by great enough of a force to overcome the force of the objects that are holding the balloon down (like people - baskets, champagne, sandbags, etc.).
People carry sandbags in their balloon to allow them to gain more height (lift) if needed - they just throw the extra weight aside, and up they go.
To bring a balloon down you have to cool the contents of the gas in the canvas (if it was heat) or deflate the balloon (with the use of flaps.
2007-01-25 07:30:44 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Dave P 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A balloon floats if the medium on the inside of the balloon is less dense than the medium on the outside.
For example a balloon filled with helium gas will float in our air because helium gas has a lower density than our air. The air around the balloon thus exerts a greater pressure than the gas inside, forcing the balloon upward. Hydrogen gas is also less dense than our air and will float a balloon too, but it is too flammable to be used safely.
Likewise a balloon filled with cooking oil will float on water because the cooking oil has a lower density than water.
** In response to Dr Dave, density decreases with increasing temperature (molecules move faster and thus spread out), so in the case of a hot-air balloon, the heated air inside the balloon becomes less dense than the cooler air outside, allowing the balloon to float upward.
2007-01-25 07:27:47 · answer #2 · answered by stickboy_127 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A balloon will float only if the air (or gasses) inside of the balloon weighs less than the same volume of air outside the balloon.
2007-01-25 06:23:25 · answer #3 · answered by mastersciprof 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A helium balloon floats because the amount of air it displaces (takes the place of) weighs more than the balloon does. This is called Archimedes' principle.
2007-01-25 06:27:44 · answer #4 · answered by MissA 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A balloon will float only if the air (or gasses) inside of the balloon aweight less than air, such as in ballons filled with hellium
2007-01-25 06:45:50 · answer #5 · answered by Yo tu amigo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ballons are filled with Helium gas which has low density and that's why the ballon floats.
2007-01-25 07:34:17 · answer #6 · answered by ♥♪♫Priya_akki™♫♪♥ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Helium.
2007-01-25 06:22:03 · answer #7 · answered by Kit 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
HELLIUM GAS--- a GAS lighter than AIR [OXYGEN that we BREATHE.]
2007-01-25 06:25:08 · answer #8 · answered by NOKIA 6103 By T*MOBILE 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋