Days after use for a party, a partially inflated helium balloon no longer floats like it once did due to helium particles leaking out of the seal. Observe the
helium atoms within the balloon in the diagram below.
Key:
Helium
particle
Direction and speed of particle
(longer arrow represents more speed)
As an experiment, a student holds the partially deflated balloon over a heating
pad to heat it up. The student notices the balloon begins to expand and when
they let go of the balloon it even floats again for a few moments before sinking
back down.
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