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Would it be possible for an object with pockets of trapped vacuum space be able to float just the way air pockets do as it is less dense?
Thanks
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rc1102 said:Would it be possible for an object with pockets of trapped vacuum space be able to float just the way air pockets do as it is less dense?
Thanks
rc1102 said:Thanks light bulb moment, the weight of the material need to resist the compressive forces around the vacuum far outweigh any reduced density you achieve from it
DaveC426913 said:This is why hydrogen makes such a great runner-up. It's the lightest element known that can provide an atmospheric pressure so that the walls don't even need to be rigid. Just that darn combustibility...
pallidin said:And cost. Hydrogen is expensive, and leaks through common membranes.
Heated air seems to produce similar bouyancy effects with a reduced TOTAL cost?
Just asking... not sure.
ryan_m_b said:Helium is the next lightest and has the nice feature of not being so flammable!
Out of interest does anybody know how we could work out the necessary material properties of a vacuum containing balloon?
SpectraCat said:Well, it must be non-porous, so that there is no gas transport across it. It must have sufficient compressive and shear strength (I think those are the right terms) to withstand the pressure difference of 15 psi (1 atm) pushing from outside to the inside. "Balloon" seems like the wrong word, since balloons have an opposite pressure differential ...
ryan_m_b said:Good ideas. I was wondering what physical properties our material would need in terms of tensile strength etc. I use the word balloon only in the sense of if it would be possible to make a buoyant vacuum pockets
rc1102 said:Thanks light bulb moment, the weight of the material need to resist the compressive forces around the vacuum far outweigh any reduced density you achieve from it
Yes, vacuum pockets can indeed make objects float. This phenomenon is known as the principle of buoyancy, where an object will float in a fluid if the weight of the fluid it displaces is equal to or greater than the weight of the object itself.
The vacuum pocket creates buoyancy by reducing the weight of the object, as there is no air or other substance inside the pocket to add weight. This allows the object to displace more fluid and thus, float.
Technically, yes, any object can float with the help of a vacuum pocket as long as its weight is less than or equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. However, the size and shape of the object can affect its stability and ability to float.
Yes, there are several real-life applications for using vacuum pockets to make objects float. One example is in shipbuilding, where large ships use air-filled chambers to increase buoyancy and reduce weight. Another application is in airships or blimps, where the use of vacuum pockets in the body of the aircraft allows it to float in the air.
One potential drawback is that the vacuum pocket may not be completely airtight and could eventually lose its vacuum over time, causing the object to sink. Additionally, the use of vacuum pockets may not be practical for very large or heavy objects as it would require a significant amount of energy to create and maintain the vacuum.