Does a container of helium weigh more than the container when it's empty, or does it weigh less? I'm confused.

Answer 1

less. Helium is less dance than surrounding air. Therefore it tends to float up in a closed container, like a balloon. A force exerted upward diminishes gravity. it would weigh less.

Answer 2

It would weigh more if the container was truly empty. But if the container is filled first with air, it weighs less, because the helium weighs less than the air it replaces. If the container had a perfect vacuum, filling it with helium would make it weigh more (by the weight of the helium).

Answer 3

The container with helium would have to weigh more than the empty container, because helium molecules have mass and you cannot destroy matter. It is a misconception that, because helium is not as dense as air (and thusly tends to float above the air), that helium doesn't weight anything. In a practical manner, if you were to weight it, you would have to take this density into consideration. In this case, the molecules would still be gravitationally attracted to each other, to the container, and more importantly to the Earth because all three have mass.

Answer 4

If the container is closed, then it will weigh less, when compared to normal scenario with air filling. This is because the total weight of the container is a sum of the weight of the physical material + the weight of air in it.
And Helium is much lighter than air that it provides a 1 kilogram of lift per cubic meter lift force when in normal atmosphere. So the effective weight of the container is lesser under normal circumstances.

But if the experiment is held in vacuum, by comparing a helium container and a vacuum container, then the answers will be reversed. The helium container will be hevier.

Answer 5

Pure Helium (i.e. not mixed with air yet) still in its container DOESN'T raise the container. It only lift things up once it is released and mixed with outside air. So a container full of helium would way more than an empty one.

Answer 6

If the container is completely empty with all gasses evacuated, it should be lighter than if it contained helium at atmospheric pressure. If your container contains air at atmospheric pressure, it would weigh more than it would containing helium at atmospheric pressure.

Answer 7

It weighs more than the container.

Answer 8

I believe it would mass more and weigh less

Answer 9

less!! :)