Why Does an Air-Filled Balloon Shrink in a Freezer?
What best explains why an air-filled balloon shrinks in a freezer?
a) The air particles inside the balloon turn from gas to liquid.
b) The air particles inside the balloon make holes in the balloon.
c) The air particles inside the balloon move faster and have more collisions with the sides of the balloon.
d) The air particles inside the balloon move slower and push less against the sides of the balloon.
Answer:
The correct answer is: 'The air particles inside the balloon move slower and push less against the sides of the balloon'.
This can be explained by using Charles' Law which states that the volume occupied by the gas is directly proportional to the temperature of the gas when pressure is held constant.
Volume ∝ Temperature (Constant pressure)
Kinetic energy of the gas is directly proportional to the temperature of the gas. With the fall in temperature of the gas, the kinetic energy of the gas will also decrease, causing the volume occupied by the gas particles to decrease. As a result, the gas particles will move with slower speed and exert less pressure on the sides of the balloon.
Hence, the size of the balloon decreases or shrinks when kept in a freezer.