Menu

At what height will a helium balloon burst? Lifting height of helium balloons

Ponds in the garden

Most likely, most people think that flying balloons, moving into the sky, burst due to low temperature, but has anyone seen this event and what is the height of the helium balloon?

Surely, everyone let go of the balloon’s string and thoughtfully looked after it, thinking about where this little inflated traveler would go. But already at that moment when the ball was hiding behind the clouds, the thought of where it flew disappeared as quickly as it arose.

However, in the meantime, when a person acquired a new balloon, the traveler balloon “traversed the expanses of the Universe.” So, is it worth answering the question of where they are flying, or is it better to leave it a secret?

The secret of balloons has been revealed

The main secret of balloons is naturally helium gas, which weighs lighter than air, so it lifts the balloons up.

Today there are many different options for where a balloon can go. He can easily travel to another state, because he does not need to obtain a foreign passport or apply for a visa. The ball can fly to the moon and meet the Little Prince there. Or maybe he will land in the courtyard of a kind old lady and please her with his presence.

Despite the fact that everyone knows where balloons fly, their “actions” are almost impossible to predict. And this is due to the fact that all balls, without exception, are windy by nature.

Therefore, anyone who wants to track their “released” balloon and find out its route can turn to the Joker company for help, which knows absolutely all the secrets about balloons.

And after the company’s specialists reveal all the secrets about the life of balloons, and tell where the balloons fly away, one day it will be possible to take them and go with them.

Interesting fact: in the 12th century, every Karelian family had a balloon made of whale and bull skin. Karelians flew on them, overcoming impassable terrain. Whether this is true or not, this fact is reflected in the manuscripts. It was only in the 19th century that rubber balls were created by Michael Faraday. Hydrogen-filled balloons have delighted people for almost a hundred years. But after a comic explosion in the United States, which injured an official, balloons began to be filled with helium. In the 20th century, latex balloons appeared. Not only round, but also oval shapes became possible. The inventor became a billionaire.

A sheep, a duck and a chicken were the first to travel in a hot air balloon.

Interesting fact: balloons, falling into a stream of wind, fly away to a distance of several thousand kilometers. Gel balloons increase in size as they gain height. The reason is a drop in pressure in the atmosphere. The balloons fly and fly upward for several kilometers until they burst. With a very dense shell, they rise up until the moment when the density of air becomes equal to the density of helium. But eventually, the helium gradually comes out and the balloon loses altitude, sinking to the ground.

Related posts:

All about helium balloons

Helium is one of the lightest gases. Its weight is seven times less than air. It is extracted from natural gas. Helium has no color, smell or taste, and in addition to the gaseous state, they have learned to obtain the substance in liquid and even solid form.

The effect of helium on human health

It is a fairly common belief that the inert gas helium is dangerous to human health. This belief is absolutely wrong.

Helium is considered an inert gas and does not interact with any substances , is not subject to combustion and will definitely not cause poisoning.

Helium cannot ignite. If a match, smoldering cigarette or other object touches a helium balloon, it will certainly burst. A similar situation will occur when a ball and a hot light bulb come into contact. However, in this way only the shell of the latex ball is destroyed - you definitely won’t see the flame or explosion.

According to the standards of European countries and the Russian Federation, latex balloons can be inflated with helium and plain air.

Is there a danger when breathing helium out of a balloon?

No, helium is absolutely safe for humans. Moreover, some scuba divers, before diving to great depths, add helium to the breathing mixture, since it is not able to completely dissolve in human blood.

If several helium balloons burst in a room, can a person suffocate?

Helium is a harmless substance and does not cause allergic reactions. Among other things, helium will instantly rush upward and very soon will leave the room altogether, seeping through the pores of the ceiling, since its penetrating ability is great. Also, the desire to breathe helium from balloons will not harm you (it is known to change your voice). The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise you may feel dizzy.

How safe are helium balloons for small children?



Based on the standards, there is a restriction on the use of toys by children under 3 years of age. And we are talking here not only about balls, but about all toys in general. The problem, by and large, is not in the material, but in the very details of the toys, which children strive to taste. There is a high probability that a child will put a toy in his mouth after dropping it on a “non-sterile surface.”

Any materials used in the production and inflation of latex balloons are not harmful to human health.

Flight time of a helium balloon

Balloons inflated with helium without processing, fly on average until 10 o'clock. Treatment with a special composition “hi-float” (liquid solution of plastic) creates a film inside the balloon, the pores of which are very small, as a result, helium evaporates very slowly, and the balloon flies longer, about 5 days.

Under ideal conditions, the treated ball can “live” up to a month!

Hi-float is safe for health and for the environment. If it gets on the skin, it is washed off with plain water without any problems.

Why do helium balloons deflate?

1. The main reason that the ball flies so little is size of helium molecules. Helium molecules are much smaller than those of air and easily penetrate the latex from which the balloons are made. Therefore, over a certain time, helium simply comes out of the ball, which deflates and falls. This is the first reason why balloons fall.

2. Helium is also negatively affected Sun rays and elevated temperatures. As a result, serious pressure is created in the middle of the ball, which pushes the gas out. Therefore, it is important to hide the balls from direct sunlight and heating devices.

3. In addition to the sun, the balls are also negatively affected precipitation. They settle on the latex surface, thereby increasing the total weight of the ball, which begins to slowly fall. But don't worry: once the water evaporates, the balloon will be able to fly again. In a strong wind, the balls rub against each other, wearing out greatly, forming microcracks through which helium passes.

4. Also worth avoiding drafts, moisture and sudden temperature changes.

5. The most common reason that helium balloons don’t fly much is mechanical impact. But nothing can be done about this, because balls are created to be played with, run, jumped and rejoiced at their beauty.

6. At different times of the year, the flight time of helium balloons changes. In summer, in hot weather with significant humidity, even very well-treated balloons fly for an average of 2 days. Late autumn - about 3 weeks. Cold and snow do not have any effect on the service life of helium balloons, but on the contrary, prolongs it. But we must not forget that each created conditions are individual.

There are many more harmful factors that affect the flight of the ball, so it is not enough to simply treat it.

Foil balloons

Foil balloons are more durable: their walls are denser, so they hold gas much better than latex. A sealed balloon with air can last for several months, a helium balloon - a week or more.

Such a ball reacts well to changes in temperature, so in the cold it shrinks noticeably, and in the heat it regains its shape and size. Do not store foil balloons at temperatures higher than the temperature at which they were inflated to avoid tearing the foil at the seams.

Lifting height of helium balloons

Every person has once wondered how high helium balloons can rise. Such thoughts usually come when a sphere of air filled with gas disappears from view behind the clouds, and no trace remains of it. Helium is lighter than air, which ensures the flight of the ball; however, the sphere will not fly further than five kilometers from the ground.

The thing is that there is a huge difference between the pressure inside the ball and the environment. At high altitudes, the air is rarefied, so the balloon expands, which eventually bursts.

All kids and even some adults love balloons. These products can give a rosy mood, a feeling of triumph and happiness. decorate the halls for various events. And some people buy them specifically to release them into the sky and enjoy how they soar in the sky. Surely everyone has thought about this question at least once in their life.

How far do balloons fly?

The flight altitude of a ball launched into the sky may vary. It depends on the following facts:

  • The density of the material from which the balloon is made.
  • Weather.
  • The amount of helium inside the product.
  • Wind speed.

Under ideal conditions, the ball can rise almost into space, which is more than 50 kilometers from the earth.

Where do the balloons go?

The answer to this question can be varied. For example, to answer the kids, you can come up with a magical story about where the balloons fly to. This will interest the child and will help him not to be too upset if suddenly the desired “piece of joy” is lost from his hands and flies into the sky.

For example, little boys and girls might be told the following:

  • On a journey through space.
  • To your parents.
  • To the rainbow.
  • To the distant country of Shararam, where many similar balls live.
  • To warm lands with migratory birds.

Your child will certainly like these versions of the answer to the question of where the balloons fly. In fact, when the ball rises high into the sky, it bursts from the pressure and descends back to the ground, but in the form of a rubber rag.

How long can rubber helium balloons float in the sky?

Knowing where balloons go, many are interested in which products will last longer between heaven and earth. Rubber balls are generally inelastic and not very durable.

Therefore, having reached a height where helium is replaced by air due to atmospheric pressure, the rubber balloon cannot withstand the stress, bursts and descends to the ground in the form of a piece of rubber, continuing its “life” somewhere in the forest, ocean or in the middle of the street. It is difficult to determine exactly where the balloon will fly after it bursts. But in any case, he gets to the ground.

How long can latex helium balloons float in the sky?

Latex is a material that is obtained from the Hevea brasiliensis plant. That is, it is a natural material. Therefore, even if the product bursts under pressure and falls into a pond, in a forest, or in the middle of a city, it will not harm the environment. If people check where balloons fly using rubber products, then they can harm the environment. But even rubber balls are not as harmful to the ecological system as plastic bottles, which have a destructive effect on the environment.

Everyone understands why balloons fly away. The helium with which they are filled is lighter than air, so the rainbow ball floats in the wind. As the ball rises upward, it is affected by the atmosphere. The air temperature in the upper regions of the globe is much lower than on the ground. Because of this, the interior of the balloon releases helium and fills with air. Under the pressure of cold air, latex stretches. The balloon becomes heavier. After which the product begins to smoothly float and descend.

There were cases when the entire ball reached the ground. Schoolchildren from Canada conducted an interesting experiment. They launched a helium-filled balloon into the sky and fixed a camera on it. The latest images were taken at an altitude of more than 35,000 meters.

Experiments have also been carried out around the world on launching balloons into the sky along with “passengers”. The most popular hero who rose to the clouds on a helium-filled balloon is the bear, which was the symbol of the Moscow Olympics. There are many versions about where this “pilot” landed. A version considered accurate has never been found.

There are also people in the world who have experienced first-hand what it’s like to fly on balloons filled with helium. One of the experimenters was a resident of America, and he hovered above the ground for more than 13 hours. True, his flight was unsuccessful; he became entangled in wires, which deprived the populated area of ​​electricity. There was also a man from Russia who was ready to do anything for the sake of science. This man stayed at bird's eye level for 25 minutes.

The balloons that fly into the sky have different destinies. But in any case, this process is interesting for science and deserves attention.