A spherical balloon is made from a material whose mass is 4.30 kg. The thickness of the material is negligible compared to the 1.54-m radius of the balloon. The balloon is filled with helium (He) at a temperature of 289 K and just floats in air, neither rising nor falling. The density of the surrounding air is 1.19 kg/m3. Find the absolute pressure of the helium gas.

P = 5.97 × 10^(5) Pa

Explanation:

We are given;

Mass of balloon;m_b = 4.3 kg

Radius;r = 1.54 m

Temperature;T = 289 K

Density;ρ = 1.19 kg/m³

We know that, density = mass/volume

So, mass = Volume x Density

We also know that Force = mg

Thus;

F = mg = Vρg

Where m = mass of balloon(m_b) + mass of helium (m_he)

So,

(m_b + m_he)g = Vρg

g will cancel out to give;

(m_b + m_he) = Vρ - - - eq1

Since a sphere shaped balloon, Volume(V) = (4/3)πr³

V = (4/3)π(1.54)³

V = 15.3 m³

Plugging relevant values into equation 1,we have;

(3 + m_he) = 15.3 × 1.19

m_he = 18.207 - 3

m_he = 15.207 kg = 15207 g

Molecular weight of helium gas is 4 g/mol

Thus, Number of moles of helium gas is ; no. of moles = 15207/4 ≈ 3802 moles

From ideal gas equation, we know that;

P = nRT/V

Where,

P is absolute pressure

n is number of moles

R is the gas constant and has a value lf 8.314 J/mol.k

T is temperature

V is volume

Plugging in the relevant values, we have;

P = (3802 × 8.314 × 289)/15.3

P = 597074.53 Pa

P = 5.97 × 10^(5) Pa

hypothesising or postulating