Thermal Contraction: The Effect of Cold Liquid on a Balloon

What is the effect of the cold liquid on the balloon's size?

A) The diameter increases.

B) The diameter remains the same.

C) The diameter decreases.

D) The shape changes.

Answer:

The pouring of cold liquid over the balloon causes the diameter of the balloon to decrease due to thermal contraction.

The effect of the cold liquid on the balloon's size is that it causes the diameter of the balloon to decrease. This occurs due to a factor known as thermal contraction, an effect seen in many different types of gases and liquids, whereby the volume of the gas (inside the balloon) decreases when the temperature decreases.

In essence, the pouring of cold liquid over the balloon lowers the average kinetic energy of the gas particles within the balloon, causing them to move more slowly and take up less space. This results in the balloon itself shrinking in size.

This can further be understood with the help of Boyle's law which suggests that as the temperature decreases, the volume also decreases if the pressure is kept constant. This is where the volume of the gas inside the balloon declines as the average kinetic energy of the gas particles decreases under lower temperatures.

Therefore, the cold liquid has a significant effect on the size of the balloon, causing it to decrease in diameter as a result of thermal contraction. This phenomenon is crucial in understanding the behavior of gases and liquids when exposed to changes in temperature.