Final answer:
The mass of a balloon does not change through the day if it is sealed, as no air is added or removed. However, environmental factors like temperature and atmospheric pressure can affect the scale's readings, though not the actual mass. The difficulty lies in controlling these variables in an outdoor experiment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Does the Mass of a Balloon Change Throughout the Day?
The question concerns whether the mass of a balloon changes as the day progresses when placed on weighing scales outside in the early morning. To answer this, we need to consider the nature of the balloon and the external conditions. The mass of the balloon should theoretically remain constant if the balloon is sealed, as no air molecules are being added or removed. However, external temperature changes throughout the day can affect the density and pressure of the air inside the balloon, potentially causing it to expand or contract.
Despite these changes, the actual mass of the air inside the balloon remains constant. The significant difficulties in carrying out this experiment include accounting for varying environmental conditions such as atmospheric pressure changes, humidity, and temperature fluctuations, which could affect the scale's readings.
Therefore, the correct answer would be (b) No, the mass remains constant; difficulties involve temperature changes. Measuring a constant mass requires precise control over environmental factors, which can be challenging in an outdoor setting.
Difficulties in Measuring Mass Accurately
When conducting this type of experiment, precision is key. Everyday scales measure weight, which is the force due to gravity on an object, and are calibrated to display mass assuming a constant gravitational force. Outside, conditions such as wind or changes in air pressure can cause the scales to give false readings. Moreover, the scales need to be sensitive enough to detect slight changes in force that are not related to changes in mass but to the balloon's buoyancy fluctuations.