Tina fills two balloons with an equal amount of helium gas. She puts one balloon in the freezer and, after twenty minutes, takes it out. She observes that this balloon is smaller than the one that remained at room temperature. The balloon from the freezer is way less filled up then the balloon that is room temperature. How can Tina accurately explain the difference in the size of her balloons?

Question

A. She explains that an increase in temperature causes the volume of helium gas to expand.
B. She says that a decrease in pressure reduces the volume of helium gas.
C. She says that an increase in pressure raises the volume of helium gas.
D. She says that a decrease in temperature causes the volume of helium gas to increase.

Answer 1

Tina can accurately explain the difference in the size of her balloons using the following reasoning:

A. She explains that an increase in temperature causes the volume of helium gas to expand.

This explanation aligns with Charles's Law, which states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature when the pressure is kept constant. Since the balloon that was kept in the freezer experienced a decrease in temperature, the volume of the helium gas inside that balloon decreased as well, making the balloon smaller than the one that remained at room temperature.