If the temperature of this balloon were to decrease suddenly, how would the balloon change?
A.Its volume would increase.
B.Its mass would increase.
C.Its mass would decrease.
D Its volume would decrease.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is D. Its volume would decrease.
Explanation:
The behavior of gases, including the air inside a balloon, is primarily governed by the gas laws, particularly Charles’s Law, which states that at constant pressure, the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature (measured in Kelvin). According to this law, when the temperature of a gas decreases, its volume also decreases, provided that the pressure remains constant.
When the temperature of the air inside a balloon decreases suddenly, the kinetic energy of the gas molecules decreases as well. Molecules at lower temperatures move less vigorously than those at higher temperatures. This reduced motion causes the gas molecules to occupy less space, resulting in a decrease in volume.
As the air inside the balloon cools, the molecules slow down, causing them to collide with the walls of the balloon less frequently and with less force. This behavior results in a lower pressure exerted by the gas on the inside of the balloon. While the mass of the gas remains constant—since no gas is added or removed—the volume is directly impacted by the temperature change.
It is important to note that the mass of the gas remains unchanged during this process (eliminating option B and C), as the number of air molecules stays the same; they are simply less active. Additionally, option A is incorrect because the volume cannot increase when the temperature decreases. Therefore, in summary, when the temperature of a balloon decreases suddenly, the most accurate prediction of its behavior is that its volume will decrease, resulting in a smaller balloon.