When you leave your balloon out, say in your bedroom, for a few days (not a helium balloon), why does it lose its air?
2007-12-24 12:31:10 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
it seeps through the very tiny holes in teh ballon
2007-12-24 12:35:01 · answer #1 · answered by csd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a slight pressure in the balloon (compared to the outside air). This keeps the rubber of the balloon inflated, even though the balloon wants to relax. Slowly the molecules comprising the air are forced through the interstitices of the balloon walls due to the contracting of the balloon. Since air is mostly nitrogen and oxygen (both diatomic molecules) this happens alot more slowly than it does with helium which is a much smaller atom and is able to squeeze through the gaps much more quickly..
2007-12-24 12:40:33 · answer #2 · answered by DS 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
sam:
Others have stated that the air escapes the balloon though holes. In the most simplistic approach this is sort of correct.
Remember solid matter is not really solid or continuous here on earth. In reality there is a lot of empty space between the atoms and molecules of the balloon. The air molecules air in the balloon migrates between in these gaps through the film of the balloon. The characteristic is called gas permeability.
All materials have it to some extent.
The pressure of the air in the balloon is the driving force causes the gas molecules to go from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure outside the balloon.
2007-12-24 12:48:53 · answer #3 · answered by Nathaniel L 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The pressure inside a ballon makes the gas inside the ballon to seep through the small holes its a little like diffusion.
2007-12-25 00:08:04 · answer #4 · answered by Vaibhav Dwivedi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After a while pressure gets to the balloon and it starts to get small signs of holes. That's just common sense to me, though. It seems logical.
2007-12-24 12:35:32 · answer #5 · answered by Georgie 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It diffuses through the rubber, especially helium since it has a small atom. Same reason you need to refill tires every month or two.
2007-12-24 12:45:29 · answer #6 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
air leaks through the porous skin of the balloon
2007-12-24 13:05:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
it happens because you just leave it alone, it probably won't lose air if you move it around and stuff like that.
2007-12-24 12:35:43 · answer #8 · answered by Lights Fan (: 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it leaks
2007-12-24 12:59:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋