What Happens to a Helium Balloon and Objects During Sudden Braking?

  • Thread starter Thread starter vikasj007
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Car Inertia
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the effects of sudden braking in a car containing two men, a box of goodies, and a helium balloon. When the car stops abruptly, both men experience inertia and move forward, while the box of goodies also shifts forward. However, the helium balloon behaves differently due to its buoyancy; it moves backward relative to the car's motion because the surrounding air rushes forward. This phenomenon is explained by Newton's first law of motion. The conversation also touches on a hypothetical scenario where a man is running with a helium balloon, questioning whether the effects of sudden acceleration or deceleration would be similar to those experienced in the car. The discussion highlights the unique behavior of helium balloons in motion and the principles of physics that govern these interactions.
vikasj007
Messages
160
Reaction score
1
a man was driving a car, with him was his friend inside the car along with a box full of godies, and a helium fill baloon.

suddenly he stops the car.

now you have to tell, what will be the effect of this breaking (negitive acceleration) on all the four bodies( both men, box of goodies and the helium filled baloon.)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hmm,
Gets a car , a friend , a box of goodies and a helium balloon. Puts them all in the car and drives. After sometime realizes, that he can't drive. Desparately attempts to brake but no luck and crashes. So the effect of braking on me and my partner was that we were in the hospital , the box of goodies i learned were taken as goodwil gift by the inspecting policeman and the balloon well i offerred it to the good looking nurse.

-- AI
::
But in your example,
the two men move forward (inertia),
the box of goodies , well i ate them
and the helium balloon moves backward (inertia) .
[/Color]::
 
Answer:
Newton’s first law would apply to all four bodies. However, the balloon would float towards the back of the car because the air around it will rush towards the front.
 
TenaliRaman said:
Hmm,
Gets a car , a friend , a box of goodies and a helium balloon. Puts them all in the car and drives.

I suspect your troubles resulted from trying to put a car inside a car. :wink:

::The helium balloon moves in the same direction as the center of mass of the air inside the box of goodies. [/color]::
 
The driver not wishing to consult Newton's first, and putting shades on all the car windows, discovers that according to GR use of the 'brake' has created a new gravity source directly in front. All the objects react to the additional gravitational force in front of them exactly as they have been reacting to the one still below them. Including the helium balloon that seems to be repelled from the ground below.
 
Gokul43201 said:
I suspect your troubles resulted from trying to put a car inside a car. :wink:

Hehe, i never realized that! So were they really brakes i was trying to apply there :eek:

-- AI
 
The helium balloon will tend towards the rear of the car during the braking. All of the the others will tend to the forward direction until restraining forces bring them to a stop.
 
does this mean that i was the only one in this whole world who took a week to get to the answer to this question.

obviously, everybody else seems to know the answer immidiately.
 
today on my way to college, i saw a boy walking with a helium baloon in his hand.

so what if i change the situation in this case. suppose a man is running or walking(in linear motion), while holding on to a long thread tied to a helium baloon. what will be the effect of his sudden acceleration or retardation on the baloon. will it still be the same as was in the case when the baloon was inside the car??
 
Back
Top