404,016 views
30 votes
30 votes
Take a balloon that we filled up with our breath. Tell me what would happen if we put it outside and let it sit in the sun for a bit. Support your answer using the KMT.Keep in mind we are going to be under the impression that no air can escape from the balloon.

User PauloASilva
by
2.5k points

1 Answer

29 votes
29 votes

The balloon will be filled by a gas, and as the gas is not escaping we can assume that it is at a constant pressure.

The KMT (Kinetic Molecular Theory) explains the macroscopic properties of gases. This theory states that gases are formed by particles in constant motion, and that their kinetic energy is directly proportional to the temperature of the gas.

If we leave the balloon filled with gas in the sun we assume that the temperature of the gas inside will start to rise. When the temperature starst to rise, and the pressure is constant, particles will gain kinetic energy. This will result in particles moving faster and coliding with each other and with the balloon's walls more often. As a consecuence the particles will tend to stay farther from one another and the volume of the balloon will increase.

This is an example of Charles's Law that states that at constant pressure the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature. In other words, when the temperature of the gas increases the volume increases as well.

To summarize, if we fill a balloon and we leave it in the sun its volume will increase.

User Paul A Jungwirth
by
2.5k points