Part 1. a lightly inflated balloon is placed in a freezer. explain the change to the size of the balloon based on the kinetic molecular theory.

part 2. what would most likely happen to the balloon if it was instead kept outside in the sun for some time? explain your answer based on the kinetic molecular theory.

in both cases, assume the balloon is tied tight enough so that air does not escape.

When understanding Kinetic Molecular Theory, it is understood that when particles are exposed to colder temperatures they lose kinetic energy and vice versa if the are in hotter temperatures.

Explanation:

So for part one if it was in the freezer, the particles would slow down and hit the walls of the balloon less causing it to decrease in size.

Vice versa for part two, as an increase in temperatures leads to an increase in kinetic energy, more hitting of the balloon wall and a bigger size of the balloon.

a) A lightly inflated balloon is placed in a freezer: the size will decrease.

b)if it was instead kept outside in the sun for some time: the size will increase.

Explanation:

a) When we keep an inflated balloon in a freezer, it means we are keeping the balloon at lower temperature. According to kinetic molecular theory, if we decrease the temperature of gas sample, the kinetic energy of molecules will decrease, and they will move less randomly. The space between them will decrease, and the volume of the gas will decrease. This makes the size of balloon to decrease.

b) in second case, if we keep it in sun, the temperature will increase. The increase in temperature will increase the kinetic energy of molecules and thus molecules will move more randomly. The space between them will increase, this will increase the volume.

In extreme case the balloon may burst even.