Re: Helium balloons in the car

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From: Eric Muller (emuller@isaac.exploratorium.edu)
Date: Tue May 22 2001 - 14:29:34 PDT 

Message-Id: <a05100300b730888427eb@[192.174.3.228]>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 14:29:34 -0700
From: Eric Muller <emuller@isaac.exploratorium.edu>
Subject: Re:  Helium balloons in the car

David,
Think of your car full of water with a small bubble of air trapped
inside. As the car accelerates, the water will be pushed to the back
of the car and so will the air bubble. However, since the water is
denser than the bubble, the bubble is forced in the other direction.
The same is true for a fluid such as air and helium (air is much
denser than helium).

For an even more detailed explanation, check out
The Physics Teacher April 1964 edition - Don Rathjen has a copy. 

-- 
Eric Muller
Exploratorium Teacher Institute
Science Educator
3601 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123

415-561-0313
emuller@exploratorium.edu

www.doscience.com

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