Helium Balloon in a Car
What happens to a helium balloon when you accelerate forward in a car?
What happens to a helium balloon when you accelerate forward in a car?
A) It slams back just like your head.
A) It slams back just like your head.
B) Nothing.
B) Nothing.
C) It goes forward.
C) It goes forward.
D) I can't tell. A helium balloon defies the law of gravity, so it is obviously not subject to the laws of physics.
D) I can't tell. A helium balloon defies the law of gravity, so it is obviously not subject to the laws of physics.
Solution: C. As the car accelerates forward, the pressure in the air becomes higher in the back of the car (in order to accelerate the air). The balloon gets pushed to the front due to this pressure difference. See this video.
Solution: C. As the car accelerates forward, the pressure in the air becomes higher in the back of the car (in order to accelerate the air). The balloon gets pushed to the front due to this pressure difference. See this video.