Question

If a balloon filled with air and sealed is kept in a deep freezer for a period of time, it will shrink in size. Determine the the best reasoning for this outcome.

Answer 1

The temperature of the air in the balloon will decrease. The cold makes the molecules move slower and they get closer together. This leads to a lower pressure inside the balloon. The pressure on the outside is higher than the inside and it pushes the balloon to shrink.

Answer 2

CHOICES:

A) The air particles inside the balloon slow down due to lower thermal energy. As a result, fewer collisions take place per second and this leads to a lower pressure inside the balloon. The pressure on the outside of the balloon pushes the balloon to a smaller volume.  

B) The air particles inside the balloon slow down due to lower thermal energy. As a result, the air particles become charged, attract to each other and take up a smaller volume. Therefore, the balloon shrinks.  

Eliminate

C) The rubber latex of the balloon becomes colder and will resist stretching and push the air particles inward until the inside pressure equals the outside pressure and equilibrium is established.  

D) The density of the air particles increases within the balloon causing some particles to escape out of the balloon. This leads to an increase in the particles and, thus, pressure outside the balloon. This causes the balloon to collapse.