Flying Balloon Mystery
What happens when Marvin blows up a balloon but lets go of it?
A) Gravity pushes the balloon into the air.
B) Drag is caused by contact of the balloon with the air.
C) Lift lowers the air pressure on the top of the balloon.
D) The thrust of the air propels the balloon in the opposite direction.
The correct answer is D) The thrust of the air propels the balloon in the opposite direction.
When Marvin blows up a balloon and lets go of it, the air inside the balloon is released. The air being pushed out of the balloon creates a force known as thrust, which propels the balloon in the opposite direction of the air being expelled. This action causes the balloon to go up into the air.
In this situation, it is not gravity pushing the balloon up, but rather the thrust of the air. Drag is caused by the contact of the balloon with the air, but it is not the main force causing the balloon to go up. Lift, on the other hand, is what lowers the air pressure on the top of the balloon, helping it to stay afloat in the air.
So next time you see a flying balloon, remember that it's the thrust of the air propelling it up into the sky!