Chapter 14.2, Problem 17R

To determine

The reason of the falling of the balloon on the floor and floating of the balloon filled with helium.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The object floats in a fluid if it fulfills the followings:

• The density of the object is less than the density of the fluid.
• The weight of the fluid displaced by the object becomes greater than the volume of the object.

The density of the balloon filled with air is greater than the density of the air. The weight of the balloon is greater than the weight of the air displaced by the balloon and it falls on the floor. The density of the helium is lesser than the density of the air. So, the balloon filled with Helium float in the air.

Conclusion:

Thus, the balloon filled with air falls on the floor because the density of the balloon is greater than air and the balloon filled with the helium float in air because the density of the helium is less than the density of the air.