2007-06-20 09:22:28 · 5 answers · asked by ko 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Oh no, we have to use math... First of all, a helium balloon creates very close to 1 gram of lift per liter. Now, we want to know how much a single balloon lifts. Well, we first need to assume the balloon to be roughly spherical, and a normal-sized balloon has roughly a diameter of 30 cm, meaning a radius of 15 cm. Therefore, we can find the volume of a single balloon with:
V = (4/3)*π*r³
V = (4/3)*π*15*15*15
V = 14,137 cubic centimeters = 14.137 liters
Since we get roughly one gram of lift per liter, each balloon can lift 14.137 grams. Now, we need to convert 185 lbs into grams, so we'll just use an online conversion tool to find out how grams relate to pounds (see source for that tool).
1 lb = 453.6 grams
Therefore, (185 lb)(453.6 grams / lb) = 83915 grams
So, we found out how many grams one balloon lifts, which was 14.137 grams, and we need to lift 83915 grams, so this is a simple division:
(83915 grams) * (1 balloon / 14.137) = 5935.8 balloons.
So, under our assumptions, it would likely take roughly 6000 balloons to lift a 185 lb man off of the ground.
2007-06-20 09:28:24 · answer #1 · answered by C-Wryte 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Weather balloon 4 ft in diameter will lift 2 pounds... so, about 93 of these.
"Lawnchair Larry" used larger balloons, and (according to the news reports) had 45 of them.
2007-06-20 11:37:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Helium lift in dry air is ~1 gram/liter at STP less containment mass. 185 pounds is 84,000 grams.
2007-06-20 09:29:04 · answer #3 · answered by Uncle Al 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all you got to know is it is going to take alot of ballons to lift a 185 pound man about 300,000 ballons
2007-06-20 09:27:34 · answer #4 · answered by Never More!! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hundreds of thousands. if you ever watch mythbusters, they try lifting a fourty pound child and it took about 25,000 balloons i think.
2007-06-20 09:25:29 · answer #5 · answered by Sid 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋