Question

During World War One, observation balloons were used in order to spy out enemy positions. An observation

balloon was filled with 0.50 atmospheres of Helium, 54.0 mm Hg of Nitrogen, and 0.400 atmospheres of
Hydrogen. What pressure in atmospheres was the balloon filled to?

Answer 1

0.971

Step-by-step explanation:

The pressure (P) in atmospheres (atm) the balloon was filled to will be

P = P1 +P2 + P3

where P1 is the pressure in atm of Helium (0.5 atm)

P2 is the pressure in atm of Nitrogen (X atm)

P3 is the pressure in atm of Hydrogen (0.4 atm)

The value of P2 provided in the question is in mmHg

To convert we have

1 atm = 760 mmHg

X atm = 54 mmHg

X = 54 × 1/760

X = 0.071 atm

Hence, P2 = 0.071 atm

Thus, from the formula earlier

P = 0.5 + 0.071 + 0.4

P = 0.971 atm