Balloon Boy Helium Physics – How Much Helium Would It Take to Lift Falcon?
Since the location of the Balloon Boy saga is about 60 miles north of our offices in Englewood, Colorado, we’ve received a number of phone calls and e-mails about the science of helium… specifically the lifting power of this inert gas. We decided to show our partners at KUSA and 9News.com what it would take to lift a 10 pound sack of potatoes.
According to news reports, the Jiffy-Pop-shaped balloon that captivated the world on Thursday as it floated across the state measured about 20 feet across and 6 feet tall, but it was easy to see that the balloon wasn’t fully inflated even at the time of lift off.
What is the lifting power of helium? For the sake of time and a more detailed explanation, here’s a simple data table that will give you an idea of what it would take to lift a person using a helium balloon. We’re assuming standard temperatures and pressures and no significant overpressure. Please note that we’re using “cubic feet” and “pounds” to match the English units that everyone is using in the news.
For reference purposes, you should know that
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