A weather balloon at ground level contains a fixed amount of ideal gas at an initial…
CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · A Level · Chemistry · Amount of substance · Amount of substance
Problem
A weather balloon at ground level contains a fixed amount of ideal gas at an initial pressure P0, temperature T0, and volume V0. After ascending to a certain altitude, the external pressure surrounding the balloon has decreased to 0.50P0 and the temperature of the gas inside the balloon has dropped to 0.80T0. Assume the balloon material is perfectly flexible and exerts negligible tension, so the internal pressure always equals the external pressure.
(1) Determine the ratio of the balloon’s final volume to its initial volume, Vf/V0. Show the logical steps of your reasoning clearly, but a full numerical calculation is not required.
(2) Express the percent change in the balloon’s volume that results from the ascent. Provide a brief verbal interpretation of what this percent change implies about the balloon’s size at altitude.