Potential energy of hydrogen balloon

[Himal kharel]

Hydrogen balloon naturally moves from low altitude to high altitude in Earth's atmosphere. Any object moves from higher to lower potential. So can we call low altitude high potential region?

 

[sankalpmittal]

Hydrogen balloon naturally moves from low altitude to high altitude in Earth's atmosphere. Any object moves from higher to lower potential. So can we call low altitude high potential region?

No , High potential region is always considered to be the region of high altitude. If object moves higher than its original altitude , then the object is said to be at higher potential.

You just cannot say that Mt. Everest is higher than Mt. K2 , so Mt. Everest is a high altitude potential region than Mt. K2. It is always with respect to something changing location. Yet , you can say Mt. Everest is a higher altitude region than Mt. K2.

 

[Drakkith]

I think in the case of a balloon the potential energy is less as it rises. For something like a rock it would be more potential as you raise it higher.

 

[russ_watters]

Hydrogen balloon naturally moves from low altitude to high altitude in Earth's atmosphere. Any object moves from higher to lower potential. So can we call low altitude high potential region?

Potential what? If you clarify what "potential" you're talking about, you'll answer your own question.

 

[Himal kharel]

Consider two points in Earth's atmosphere A(high altitude) and B(low altitude). In order to take stone from B to A we need to do some work which is stored as potential energy in the stone. So point A is high potential region for objects that have natural tendency to fall.
But for hydrogen balloon we have to do work in order to take it from point A to B. Similarly work done is stored as potential energy. So point B is at high potential than A.
If anything is wrong with my explanation please correct it.

Thanks

 

[Drakkith]

It looks good to me, but I can't be 100% sure.

 

[Astronuc]

Consider two points in Earth's atmosphere A(high altitude) and B(low altitude). In order to take stone from B to A we need to do some work which is stored as potential energy in the stone. So point A is high potential region for objects that have natural tendency to fall.
But for hydrogen balloon we have to do work in order to take it from point A to B. Similarly work done is stored as potential energy. So point B is at high potential than A.
If anything is wrong with my explanation please correct it.

Thanks

It would help if one were to distinguish between gravitational potential and bouyancy. As a hydrogen balloon rises and the atmosphere thins, there is less difference between the effective density of the hydrogen balloon and that of the atmosphere.

 

[russ_watters]

Consider two points in Earth's atmosphere A(high altitude) and B(low altitude). In order to take stone from B to A we need to do some work which is stored as potential energy in the stone. So point A is high potential region for objects that have natural tendency to fall.
But for hydrogen balloon we have to do work in order to take it from point A to B. Similarly work done is stored as potential energy. So point B is at high potential than A.
If anything is wrong with my explanation please correct it.

Thanks

For completeness, you should split the problem into the two different types of potential energy you are seeing: one due to gravity alone, the other due to buoyancy. Both apply to the rock as well, you're just ignoring the buoyancy of the rock.