If a balloon is taken outside on a very cold day, what will occur?

Question

A) The volume of the balloon will decrease.
B) Gas will flow into the balloon.
C) The volume of the balloon will increase.
D) The pressure inside the balloon will increase.

Answer 1

A) The volume of the balloon will decrease.

When a balloon is taken outside on a very cold day, the gas inside the balloon cools down. According to the ideal gas law, as the temperature decreases, the volume of the gas also decreases if the pressure remains constant. This is why the volume of the balloon will decrease in cold temperatures.