QuestionDecember 17, 2025

G. A helium balloon is dunked into a bucket of liquid nitrogen (T=75K ). What change occurs to the balloon if you allow it to return to room temperature?

G. A helium balloon is dunked into a bucket of liquid nitrogen (T=75K ). What change occurs to the balloon if you allow it to return to room temperature?
G. A helium balloon is dunked
into a bucket of liquid nitrogen
(T=75K ). What change occurs
to the balloon if you allow it to
return to room temperature?

Solution
4.5(155 votes)

Answer

The balloon shrinks in liquid nitrogen and re-expands to its original size at room temperature. Explanation 1. Describe effect of cooling on gas volume Cooling the helium balloon to 75\,K causes the helium gas inside to contract due to decreased kinetic energy. 2. Apply ideal gas law for temperature change By **V \propto T** (at constant P, n), lowering T reduces V; balloon shrinks in liquid nitrogen. 3. Describe effect of warming back to room temperature Returning to room temperature, T increases, so V increases; balloon expands back to original size.

Explanation

1. Describe effect of cooling on gas volume<br /> Cooling the helium balloon to $75\,K$ causes the helium gas inside to contract due to decreased kinetic energy.<br />2. Apply ideal gas law for temperature change<br /> By **$V \propto T$** (at constant $P$, $n$), lowering $T$ reduces $V$; balloon shrinks in liquid nitrogen.<br />3. Describe effect of warming back to room temperature<br /> Returning to room temperature, $T$ increases, so $V$ increases; balloon expands back to original size.
Click to rate:

Similar Questions