Do they lose their air in a few days even though I tied them tightly...?
2007-06-20 09:36:12 · 8 answers · asked by Smoky 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Balloons are porous. If they were not they would not be able to expand when you blew them up. :)
2007-06-20 09:40:02 · answer #1 · answered by Walter . 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
OK, this answer is not as easy to answer as it looks. There are a few possible answers
1 If you have inflated the balloon with Helium gas it will escape through the porus latex. The helium gas molecules are smaller than the pores in the latex. This will happen fairly quickly, the balloon will lose its lift within about 18 - 24 hours or so. There is a treatment called Hi-Float which can extend the float time of a balloon dramatically, as at your local balloon professionals shop for more info.
2 If you have inflated the balloon with air it should stay inflated more of less fully for weeks. If it is deflating over the course of a few days the only thing I can think of that would cause this would be micro fractures at the neck of the balloon where it is tied. This is normally caused by tieing the balloon too tight and tearing the latex on a microscopic scale. Don't pull on it so hard when you tie it.
3 Are you using plastic valves inserted into the neck of the balloon, if you are stop using them they are rubbish.
This advice is only good for latex balloons.
2007-06-24 00:57:27 · answer #2 · answered by James C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even though you tie the balloons tightly at the neck, because of the pressure and the material the balloons are made from, the walls of the balloon have a leakage factor which results in the balloons deflating. Try this experiment, after you blow up a balloon..... spray paint it and see what happens compared to another balloon not painted.
2007-06-20 09:54:42 · answer #3 · answered by Joline 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it is the pressure and the temperature of the air inside the balloon which changes to the same as the surrounding and then finally diffuses through the balloon due to impurities present in it.
2007-06-20 09:55:59 · answer #4 · answered by jaggy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Air molecules are small enough to pass through the molecules of rubber that make up the skin of the balloon.
2007-06-20 09:54:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because air can diffuse through rubber.
Helium-filled balloons lose helium
much faster, because helium atoms are smaller,
and diffuse more easily.
To prevent diffusion ballons are often metallized.
2007-06-20 09:58:52 · answer #6 · answered by Alexander 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The gas temperature cools down and shrinks.
2007-06-20 11:31:00 · answer #7 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not tight enough. ~
2007-06-20 09:51:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋