Final answer:
When a balloon is refrigerated, it shrinks because of a decrease in the volume of the gas inside, in accordance with Charles's Law, which relates temperature and volume of gases.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you inflate a balloon at room temperature and then leave it in the refrigerator overnight, the balloon shrinks. This happens due to the gas inside the balloon cooling down, which according to Charles's Law, causes the volume of the gas to decrease.
Charles's Law states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature (when pressure and the amount of gas are constant), so when the temperature decreases, so does the volume. Because the amount of gas and its pressure remain constant inside the sealed balloon, the only thing that changes is the volume, and this is why the balloon shrinks. Hence, the correct answer is (c) Balloon shrinks due to decreased pressure.