The Effect of Balloon

Type on Helium Diffusion

Zachary Malus
The Main  How does helium diffusion differ when using various
types of balloons and with the application of hair
Question: spray to the surface of a balloon?
Research
There are several concepts that needed to be researched in order to interpret the results
of the experiment. These topics are discussed in the proceeding slides.
  For a balloon to travel upwards, it must have more force
pushing up on it than down. The opposite is true for a
Law of balloon to travel downwards (Helium).
Buoyancy –  The reason a helium balloon floats is because the pressure
of the air above it is less than the pressure of the air below
Why Helium it. This difference in pressure results in a net upwards force
Balloons Float on the balloon, which causes the balloon to float, as helium
is light enough so that the upwards/buoyancy force is
greater than the gravitational pull downward (Helium).
  Exponential decay/growth is when a number
decreases/increases by a set percent over constant
Exponential intervals. An example of exponential decay would be
atmospheric pressure, which decreases at around 12% for
Decay/Growth every 1000 meters. An example of exponential growth
would be a population which grows at a rate of 50% every
year.
  Exponential equations can be represented by the following
formula:
f(x)=b(1+r)x

 In which x is the number of intervals, b is the initial value, and r is the rate
of growth or decay.

Exponential
Formula
  Linear decrease/increase is when a number
decreases/increases by a set amount over constant
Linear intervals. An example of linear increase would be the
distance traveled in a car moving at a constant speed
Decrease/Increase measured every 10 minutes. An example of linear decrease
would be the distance to the destination of the car
mentioned previously.
  Linear equations can be represented by the following
formula:
y=m(x)+b

 In which x is the number of intervals, b is the initial value, and m is the

slope.

Linear
Formula
  Gas diffusion is defined as the passage of gas through a
Gas Diffusion barrier (Gaseous). In this experiment, we are measuring the
rate of helium gas diffusion through various materials.
 Risk Analysis
Helium must be used in a well-ventilated location
and should be supervised by an adult.

Latex can cause allergic reactions.

Independent Variable:
- Balloon type (including the addition or absence of hairspray)
Dependent Variable:
- Upwards force excreted on the balloon by helium over time
Constants:
-Scale
- Altitude of the balloon

Variables
  If different types of balloons are used,
and/or if hair spray is applied to the surface
Hypothesis of the balloons, then the rate of helium
diffusion will differ.
 Material List
 3 Mylar Gejoy Balloons
 3 Metallic Latex Hi Party Balloons (In this
experiment, 8 were used to test a theory
about the relation between balloon weight
and decay rate, however it proved to be
false)
 3 Pearlized Latex Balloon Red Balloons
 6 Latex Party Time Balloons
 Can of Hairspray
 Laboratory Balance with Precision of At
Least 0.01 Grams.
 Approximately 7.5 Total Meters of Ribbon
 Tank of Helium
 Anchor/Weight
Procedure:

Cut a ribbon so that it is approximately 0.5 meters long.

Mass the ribbon and an individual balloon, as well as an anchor/weight to be used.
Fill the balloon with helium (make sure not to overfill).
Tie one end of the ribbon to the balloon and the other to the anchor/weight.
Place the anchor/weight on the scale and record the mass; this will be hour zero.
Record the mass of the balloon, ribbon and anchor/weight on set intervals.
Repeat step 6 until the balloon is no longer afloat.
Repeat steps 1-7 for each balloon.
Repeat steps 1-8 for a total of three times for each balloon type. With the three remaining latex
balloons, spray each with hairspray and repeat steps 1-8, treating the hairsprayed latex balloons as
their own type.
Data and Observations
The data captured during the experiment
 Key Terms:
Field Description
Time Time at which balloon readings are taken
Time Elapsed Time from the beginning of the experiment (hh:mm format)
Hours Elapsed Time from the beginning of the experment in hours (decimal format)
Scale Readings (1-3) Mass readings taken from the scale (3 independent readings per Time to ensure accuracy)
Average Scale Reading Average of the 3 readings taken per Time
Upward Force (grams) (Balloon weight + ribbon weight + anchor weight) - Average Scale Reading
Litres of Helium In the Balloon Conversation of Upwards Force to Liters of Helium (1 Liter of Helium can lift 1.059 grams)

Sample of Individual Run (1/20)

Time Time Elapsed Hours Elapsed Scale Reading 1 Scale Reading 2 Scale Reading 3 Average Scale Reading Upward Force (grams) Litres of Helium In the Balloon
12/30/20 9:15 AM 00:00 0.00 137.69 137.70 137.73 137.71 8.36 7.90
12/30/20 10:39 AM 01:24 1.40 138.47 138.48 138.48 138.48 7.59 7.17
12/30/20 11:26 AM 02:11 2.18 138.87 138.87 138.87 138.87 7.20 6.80
12/30/20 12:24 PM 03:09 3.15 139.34 139.36 139.34 139.35 6.72 6.35
12/30/20 1:25 PM 04:10 4.17 139.75 139.75 139.75 139.75 6.32 5.97
12/30/20 2:28 PM 05:13 5.22 140.13 140.15 140.13 140.14 5.93 5.60
12/30/20 3:23 PM 06:08 6.13 140.48 140.50 140.50 140.49 5.58 5.27
12/30/20 4:31 PM 07:16 7.27 140.91 140.91 140.92 140.91 5.16 4.87
12/30/20 5:49 PM 08:34 8.57 141.35 141.35 141.35 141.35 4.72 4.46
12/30/20 7:56 PM 10:41 10.68 141.94 141.92 141.92 141.93 4.14 3.91
12/30/20 9:06 PM 11:51 11.85 142.19 142.18 142.18 142.18 3.89 3.67
12/30/20 10:47 PM 13:32 13.53 142.62 142.62 142.62 142.62 3.45 3.26
12/30/20 11:14 PM 13:59 13.98 142.71 142.70 142.71 142.71 3.36 3.18
12/31/20 12:20 AM 15:05 15.08 142.94 142.93 142.93 142.93 3.14 2.96
 Key Terms

Field Description
Decay Factor (B in y=A*B^X) For expontial decay, decay factor defined as B in y=A*B^X
Decay Rate r (Exp Decay) ( per hour) For exponential decay, decay rate r as defined in y = A* (1-r)^X, expressed as a percentage reduction per hour
Half Life (Exp Decay)(hours) For exponential decay, defined as the the number of hours to decay by 50% , Half Life = Log (0.5) / Log (Decay Factor)
Slope (Linear) (m in y=mx+b) ( reduction in Lift in grams / hour) For linear decay, the slope of the best fit line, representing the reduction in lift over time
(Linear) amount of helium diffusing (Liters/ hour) For linear decay, the slope of the best fit line, representing the reduction in helium over time
Balloon Weight Weight of the balloon
Using the best fit line (exponential or linear) and a set starting point of 10 liters of helium, the amount of time before the
Estimated Life Starting At 10 Liters (Hours) lifting force is less than the weight of the balloon

Summary Table
Decay Factor (B in y=A*B^X) Decay Rate r (Exp Decay) ( per hour) Half Life (Exp Decay)(hours) Slope (Linear) (m in y=mx+b) ( reduction in Lift in grams / hour) (Linear) amount of helium diffusing (Liters/ hour) Balloon Weight Estimated Life Starting At 10 Liters (Hours)
12-5 - Metallic Hi Party Run 1 0.9382791 6.17% 10.88 2.95 19.2
12-5 - Metallic Hi Party Run 2 0.924667543 7.53% 8.85 2.63 17.1
12-5 - Metallic Hi Party Run 3 0.929220011 7.08% 9.44 2.8 17.3
12-5 - Metallic Hi Party Run 4
12-5 - Metallic Hi Party Run 5
0.930605359
0.929786797
6.94%
7.02%
9.64
9.52 N/A 2.79
2.85
17.7
17.2
12-30 - Metallic Hi-Party Run 6 0.936436498 6.36% 10.55 2.91 18.8
12-30 - Metallic Hi-Party Run 7 0.9253350 7.47% 8.93 2.69 16.9
12-30 - Metallic Hi-Party Run 8 0.924483328 7.55% 8.83 2.9 15.8
11-27 - Balloon Time Run 1 0.9227564 7.72% 8.62 1.92 20.5
11-28 - Balloon Timer Run 2
12-5 - Balloon Time Run 3
0.9241292
0.921827086
7.59%
7.82%
8.78
8.52
N/A 1.86
1.86
21.3
20.7
12-26 - Balloon Time HS Run 1 -0.215584879 -0.2283044 5.9 21.8
12-26 - Balloon Time HS Run 2
12-26 - Balloon Time HS Run 3
N/A -0.285752877
-0.269095393
-0.3026123
-0.2849720
5.84
5.85
16.6
17.6
12-20 Balloon Red Pearl Run 1 0.924496328 7.55% 8.83
N/A
3.18 14.6
12-20 Balloon Red Pearl Run 2 0.930020916 7.00% 9.55 3.22 15.6
12-20 Balloon Red Pearl Run 3 0.927920663 7.21% 9.27 3.25 15.0
11-29 - Gejoy Mylar Run 1 -0.0085570 -0.0090618 7.91 313.2
12-7 - Gejoy Mylar Run 2
12-24 - Gejoy Mylar Run 3
N/A -0.013617178
-0.0300211
-0.0144206
-0.0317924
8.4
8.44
160.8
71.6
Hairspray on the surface of a latex balloon
Hairspray on the surface of a latex balloon
Graphs
Data from the experiment put into a visual representation
Example Latex
Run 1/3
Example Latex
+ Hairspray y = -0.216x + 4.41
Run 1/3
Example
Metallic
Run 6/8
Example
Pearlized
Run 3/3
Example Mylar
Run 1/3
Summary Graph
 The hypothesis that if different types of balloons are used, and/or hair spray is applied to the
surface of the balloons, then the rate of helium diffusion will differ was accepted. The rate of helium
diffusion for metallic, latex, and pearlized balloons was found to follow an exponential decay
pattern, with average decay rates of 7.0%/hour, 7.7%/hour, and 7.3%/hour respectively. Rates for
mylar and hairsprayed latex followed a linear decay pattern, with average decay rates of -0.02 grams
of lift/hour and -0.27 grams of lift/hour. It is worth noting that the application of hairspray to the
latex balloon changed the decay pattern from exponential to linear.
A reasonable explanation as to why the different types of balloons have different decay
patterns (exponential versus linear) is that the diffusion rate depends on the thickness of the barrier,
which for latex balloons starts off thin and becomes thicker as the balloon deflates, continuously
changing the diffusion rate, resulting in an exponential curve. In the case of mylar balloons and the
hairspray coating around the latex balloons, however, the material is incapable of stretching and
thus the thickness of the balloon’s barrier does not change throughout the duration of the
experiment, resulting in a constant diffusion rate and a linear slope. Another thing to note about the
Conclusion
mylar balloons is some interesting behavior that was observed for the first few days of each mylar
run: the first day of readings showed an inconsistent decline, after which the readings would plateau
for roughly another day, before continuing in a much more predictable linear decay (see the
Example Mylar graph on slide 23). Future experimentation with mylar balloons under different
conditions focusing on the first few days could help explain this behavior. As far as the hairsprayed
latex balloons go, it was found that while the application of the hairspray decreased the decay rate,
its significant increase to the weight of the balloon more than offset the decay rate, resulting in a
balloon that failed faster. It is possible that there is an ideal amount of hairspray that can be applied
which would result in a better performing latex balloon, however more experiments would need to
be done to investigate.
Error Analysis
 It was discovered during one of the early unused runs
that the scale’s zero-point would become offset after leaving the
scale on for extended periods of time. The original method of
leaving the weight on the scale and taking readings had to be
modified to accommodate for this error. The scale manufacturer
was contacted, and at their advice, the process was changed to
taking readings by removing the weight from the scale and
powering it down between measurements, which ended up
working, verified by weighing a known 50-gram weight.
 One other potential error was possible temperature
fluctuations, which could affect the diffusion rate of helium inside
the balloons. The temperature was measured during a run to see if
it influenced the measurements, but there were no detectable
patterns.
  Gaseous Diffusion. www.dictionary.com/browse/gaseous-
diffusion.
 “Helium Balloon – Balloon Physics.” YouTube, uploaded by LabRat
Work Cited Scientific, 1 Mar. 2018,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaWjC_VDlqQ.
 Photo of