IGCSE Pressure Question: How many balloons can be inflated?

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The discussion revolves around calculating how many balloons can be inflated using helium from a cylinder with a specific volume and pressure. The initial calculation yielded 50 balloons, but there was confusion regarding the final pressure in the cylinder after inflation. Participants debated whether the cylinder would be completely empty, with some clarifying that a perfect vacuum is not expected. The analogy to electricity and resistance was also discussed, emphasizing that the balloon problem is more similar to charging capacitors. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the importance of understanding pressure dynamics in gas inflation scenarios.
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Hi, very quick question... It does like this: Helium in a cylinder (Which will be used to inflate a number of balloons) has a volume of (6*10-3) cubic meters and a pressure of (2.75*106)Pa. The pressure in each of the helium balloons is (1.1*105)Pa, and the volume of each balloon (3*10^-3) cubic meters.The temperature of helium does not change. How many balloons were inflated?

-How i solved it: Pressure * Volume = Constant so... (6.0*10^-3)*(2.75*10^6)=V2*1.1*10^5... V2= 0.15m3... Now what i did here was divide the total volume of helium at 1.1*105 by the volume of helium in each balloon and so...0.15/3*10-3... My answer was 50 balloons.

-Mark scheme has the following answer: (0.15-(6*10-3))/3*10-3... Can someone tell me where i went wrong?
Thanks in advance.
 
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Do you expect the helium cylinder to be completely empty after all the balloons that can be inflated are inflated?
 
gneill said:
Do you expect the helium cylinder to be completely empty after all the balloons that can be inflated are inflated?
If the volume of helium in the balloon is 0.15m3 at that pressure, then why not? We use all the 0.15m3 because 0.15 is divisible by 0.030 without any remainders...
 
UnknownGuy said:
If the volume of helium in the balloon is 0.15m3 at that pressure, then why not? We use all the 0.15m3 because 0.15 is divisible by 0.030 without any remainders...
So the final pressure in the cylinder will be zero? A perfect vacuum? How does the last of the gas get moved to balloons where the pressure will be nonzero?
 
gneill said:
So the final pressure in the cylinder will be zero? A perfect vacuum? How does the last of the gas get moved to balloons where the pressure will be nonzero?
Ah, now I understand.. Thank you very much!:biggrin:
 
:smile:
 
gneill said:
Do you expect the helium cylinder to be completely empty after all the balloons that can be inflated are inflated?
Yes just like in electricity questions we ignore resistance
 
Pegasus said:
Yes just like in electricity questions we ignore resistance
Please note that this thread is more than 6 years old. Also note that in electricity questions we don't usually ignore resistance, especially when there is current flowing.
 
Pegasus said:
Yes just like in electricity questions we ignore resistance
Your analogy does not work. The balloon filling problem is more akin to charging capacitors from a given capacitor.
And the correct answer to @gneill's question is no. Or were you being sarcastic?
 
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