Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Floating helium balloons

While thinking about helium, I became mindful of why helium balloons float, while air balloons that we blow up ourselves don't.  The main factor is that helium is less dense than air (air contains nitrogen and oxygen).  Helium is also lighter than air.  Just like heavier things tend to sink, and lighter objects float, the lighter helium balloon will float and rise when it is in air.

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