physicsnewbie
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Homework Statement
Very large air bags are used to lift instruments for high altitude measurements as shown in the image below. At ground level the bag is only partially filled with helium, just buoyant enough to rise.
A) As the balloon rises, describe what happens to the magnitude of the buoyant force on the balloon.
B) Given that air temperature steadily decreases at higher altitudes, explain the effect of atmospheric temperature on the net buoyant force of this system?
Homework Equations
No equations were given.
The Attempt at a Solution
A) As the balloon rises from sea level, the surrounding air becomes less dense, causing the volume of the helium inside the balloon to increase. However, due to the ideal gas law, the weight of the displaced air remains the same as it was at sea level. The ideal gas law is PV = nRT. P represents pressure and V volume. On the other side of the equation there is: n (the number of moles), the universal gas constant R, and absolute temperature T. From sea level, the balloon rises due to a buoyant force acting on it. This force results from the helium displacing a weight of air greater than itself. However, as mentioned, the same weight of air is displaced despite the air becoming less dense as the balloon rises. Thus, the magnitude of the buoyant force on the balloon remains the same as the balloon rises.
B) I have no idea how this is different from question A, which is where part of the confusion is. Any help is appreciated.