Pressure of Helium inside a balloon floating in air

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the absolute pressure of helium inside a spherical balloon that is floating in air. The balloon has a radius of 2.98 m and a mass of 3.16 kg, filled with helium at a temperature of 285 K, while the surrounding air density is 1.19 kg/m3. The buoyant force is calculated based on the volume of the balloon, leading to a total mass of 131.912 kg, from which the mass of helium is derived. The number of moles of helium is then calculated, and the ideal gas law is applied to find the pressure, resulting in a value of 6.88 x 10^5 Pascals. However, the answer was marked incorrect, prompting a request for verification of the final calculation.
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Pressure of Helium inside a balloon "floating" in air

Homework Statement


A spherical balloon of radius R = 2.98 m is made from a material of mass M = 3.16 kg and is filled with helium gas at temperature T = 285 K. Assume the thickness of the balloon is negligible compared to the radius of the balloon, and the balloon just floats on air, neither rising nor falling. If the density of the surrounding air is ρ = 1.19 kg/m3, find P, the absolute pressure of the helium inside the balloon.
ASSUME: The balloon material displaces a negligible amount of air, and therefore creates no measurable buoyancy.

Homework Equations


Volume of a sphere = (4/3)π(r^3)
Buoyant force of an object "floating": F = (mass object)(g) = (ρliquid)(Vobject)(g), and the "g's" cancel.
PV = nRT
moles = grams/ (grams/mol)


The Attempt at a Solution


First: find the mass of the TOTAL object. We can then subtract the mass of the balloon's material from the Total mass to find the mass of the Helium itself.
Use, Buoyant Force equation, where (ρliquid)(Vobject) = (mass object) = (1.19)(4/3)π(2.98^3) = 131.912 kg.

Then: (mass object) - (mass of balloon material) = mass of Helium = 131.912 - 3.16 = 128.75 kg = 128,750 grams.
number of moles of Helium inside balloon: 128, 750 g/4 g/mol = 32187.50 moles.

Now: can use pv = nRT, or P = nRT/V = 32187.50(8.314)(285)/((4/3)(∏)(2.98^3) = 6.88 x 10^5 Pascals.

The answer key marked me incorrect, however, I believe I have reasoned the problem correctly. Does anyone have any suggestions?

My unlimited thanks in advance!
 
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I think you're an order of magnitude out. Check the final calculation.
 


Thanks!
 
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