# Elastic balloon of volume V in vacuum

1. Jan 25, 2015

### poiuyt

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Take an elastic balloon of volume V in vacuum. The surface of the balloon has tension T. Find the pressure inside the balloon in terms of V and T, then combine this to the ideal gas law to find an expression for V.

2. Relevant equations
See below

3. The attempt at a solution
I think one should use something like dU=-pdV, but you need to add a term with T. From dimensional analysis you get TdA. So you have dU=-pdV+TdA. But I'm confused on what happens then, I get something like

p=-(dU/dV)+T(dA/dV)

But then how does this help if I want V?

Last edited: Jan 25, 2015
2. Jan 25, 2015

### Quantum Defect

You have a static equilibrium. Pressure inside the balloon (force pushing out) is exactly compensated for by the tension in the balloon (force decreasing the size of the balloon).

How can you relate the increase in area of the balloon to the increase in volume?

3. Jan 25, 2015

### poiuyt

maybe like this: dA/dV should go like 1/dr where r is the radius. If you do it for the whole balloon this is A/V=3/r. So effectively you get p = 3T/r = 3T (4π/3)1/3 V-1/3

then you plug this in the ideal gas law (I call the temperature τ) and you get pV=3T (4π/3)1/3 V-1/3 V = Nkτ and solving for V you get V = (Nkτ/3T)3/2 (4π/3)-1/2

I'm not sure about the 3 from A/V

4. Jan 25, 2015

### haruspex

Finding the pressure is much easier than that.
Think of the sphere in two halves. What is the force pushing them apart? What is the force holding them together?

5. Jan 26, 2015

### poiuyt

Ok, one half gets F=pπr2 because the area is effectively just the one of the equator (right?). The force that holds together the two halves is the circle 2πr times the tension T. So you get p=2T/r. Then you have exactly the same calculation, but with a 2 instead of a 3: V = (Nkτ/2T)3/2(4π/3)-1/2

Btw I found this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_tension#Thermodynamics_of_soap_bubbles where they get the same using dA/dV!