Chapter 14.2, Problem 24LC

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: To determine why does not the drop in temperature at higher altitudes cause the volume to decrease.

Concept Introduction: Ideal gas equation give the relation between temperature, pressure, and volume. The ideal gas equation can be shown as $\text{PV}\text{=}\text{nRT}$ .

Answer to Problem 24LC

The balloon expands because the outside pressure would be lower than the inner pressure that’s why the volume of a weather balloon increases as the balloon rises in the atmosphere.

Explanation of Solution

The gas's volume will have grown, meaning that when the weather balloon rises in the sky and reaches lower pressure areas, less atmospheric pressure would be exerted on the balloon's surface, causing the inside gas to expand until the internal, as well as external pressures, can be equal.

The balloon expands because the outside pressure would be lower than the inner pressure