How Does Helium Make a Balloon Fly?
It’s All About Density When we think of an object rising into the sky we must realize that the less dense the gas the higher it will rise, until that gas eventually collides with an even lighter gas that will stop the object from climbing farther into the atmosphere. For example if a helium balloon encounter hydrogen (a lighter gas) it would no long float because it is heavier than the gas it has encountered. Helium Versus Air Helium is a gas that is lighter than air; therefore, a balloon will continue to rise into the air until it collides with a gas that is even lighter than helium. Here’s the main breakdown between helium and air: Helium weighs a very light 0.1785 grams per liter while nitrogen, which comprises 80% of the air we breathe, weighs 1.2506 grams per liter. Since helium is lighter it floats. Other Gases That Will Also Cause A Balloon To Float You can also try hydrogen, although we don’t recommend this practice due to hydrogen’s volatile nature (it can easily explode). You
