At what height does a helium balloon burst ?

Answer 1

Depends on how much room for expansion the envelope has.
High altitude scientific balloons are only 20% filled on the ground and they can get to over 150,000 ft.

Answer 2

Depends on the type of material/latex that the balloon was made of and the atmospheric conditions. Weather balloons with a diameter of about 1m and made of latex have gone up to 35km before they burst and the signal was lost. A small children's balloon will leak helium if not tied properly and will probably burst at about 3km. The temperature of air at 10km where air-planes fly is between -40 to -60 degrees. Thus any normal balloon not made to handle these temperatures will burst before then.

Answer 3

This is not an easily answered question because it depends upon what the balloon skin is made of, the interior volume of the balloon, and the weight of the total balloon with payload.

The first trick is to get the inserted volume of Helium Gas to lift the total balloon with payload and rise from sea (or ground) level - approx. 14 PSI pressure.

If the balloon material is strong, flexible, and leakproof at sub zero temperatures of about Minus 50 or Minus 60 Degrees F, then such a balloon would have the capability of reaching altitudes of as much as 150,000 Feet. Very high altitude balloons such as this require designs which lift off of the ground when 15 to 20 percent inflated with helium. They expand in size as they go aloft into the lower atmospheric pressures found in high altitude flight. Somewhere in the region of 100,000 to 150,000 feet altitude the balloon will have reached its maximum inflated volume and stop gaining altitude. Left alone, the balloon would circle the Earth endlessly until something gave way and the gases began to slowly or suddenly escape. Reductions in the helium gas within the balloon would cause it to sink and eventually fall to Earth. Foreign countries might not be enthusiastic about over flights by unidentified balloons and shoot them down with canon fire or missles from border patrol aircraft - hazard to other aircraft.

Strong - Lightweight Construction of the balloon fabric is the key to a really successful high altitude balloon flight. Mylar film is one skin material that seems suitable, and there are several ways to deal with the necessary seams.

Good luck

Answer 4

Depends on the amount of inflation and how far the balloon material can stretch.The gas temperature also plays a part.

Answer 5

do a google search on near space

There is a great group of people in the usa that do this.

Answer 6

It depends on the size of the envelope, my boy!

Answer 7

What's it made out of?