Max Weight for Helium Balloon: Simple Buoyancy Problem Solution

  • Thread starter Thread starter ChemIsHard
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Buoyancy
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the maximum mass that can be attached to a helium balloon without it sinking. The balloon has a diameter of 25 cm and a mass of 0.900 g. The user attempted to equate the buoyant force and the gravitational force to find the attachable mass, initially calculating it as 7.5 g but questioning the accuracy. After multiple calculations, the user confirmed the mass as approximately 7.45 g, attributing discrepancies to different constants used compared to the textbook. Ultimately, the user recognized their error as a simple mistake in constants rather than a fundamental misunderstanding of the buoyancy problem.
ChemIsHard
Messages
15
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A 0.900 g balloon is filled with helium gas until it becomes a 25.0 cm-diameter sphere.
What maximum mass can be tied to the balloon (with a massless string) without the balloon sinking to the floor?

Homework Equations



Fb=VSphere*Pair*Gravity
Fg=Vsphere*Phelium*Gravity

The Attempt at a Solution



I tried to set them equal to each other (so that the net force is 0) and found that...

Vsphere(Phelium-Pair)*9.8-0.0009kg*9.8(mass of ballon)=Mass attachable/9.8

I got 7.5g but that's wrong. Anyone know where I messed up my process?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Still looking for some help. I've run the calculation several times and keep get 7.45g...
 
I still get 7.45g...weird.

My balloon circumference is 25 cm. The balloon weighs 0.9g. Pair=1.2, PHelium=0.1785

Therefor my radius is 0.125m and my balloon mass is 0.0009kg.

4/3pi(0.125)^3*1.2=Mass+0.0009kg+4/3pi(0.125)^3*0.1785

Mass=0.007457kg=7.5g...

Anyone see where I'm messing up.
 
I was right...I just had different constants than the book...

Dumb mistake.
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top