Question
Why does a balloon filled with helium rise while a balloon filled with an equal volume of average atmospheric air does not?
A.
Helium has a higher density than air.
B.
Helium has a lower density than air.
C.
Helium increases the balloon's mass more than air.
D.
Helium has no mass, but air does.
A.
Helium has a higher density than air.
B.
Helium has a lower density than air.
C.
Helium increases the balloon's mass more than air.
D.
Helium has no mass, but air does.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is:
**B. Helium has a lower density than air.**
A helium-filled balloon rises because helium is less dense than the surrounding air. According to Archimedes' principle, an object will rise in a fluid (in this case, air) if it is less dense than that fluid. Since helium is lighter than the average air, the balloon filled with helium displaces a volume of air that weighs more than the weight of the helium contained in the balloon, resulting in an upward buoyant force that causes it to rise.
**B. Helium has a lower density than air.**
A helium-filled balloon rises because helium is less dense than the surrounding air. According to Archimedes' principle, an object will rise in a fluid (in this case, air) if it is less dense than that fluid. Since helium is lighter than the average air, the balloon filled with helium displaces a volume of air that weighs more than the weight of the helium contained in the balloon, resulting in an upward buoyant force that causes it to rise.