Like, say you had a grain silo or some theoretical structure that would allow you to fill the structure as high as you wanted, full of balloons, all inflated with regular air, not helium.
Is there a point where the balloons’ collective miniscule weight would be enough to pop the balloons on the bottom? Or would they just bounce/float on top of each other forever and ever?
To answer this question, we need to consider a few factors:
The weight of a single balloon: This is typically quite light, but we’ll need an exact figure for our calculations.
The maximum weight a balloon can support without popping: This can vary based on the type and size of the balloon, as well as the pressure inside it.
The total weight of a million balloons: This will be the weight of a single balloon multiplied by a million.
Once we have these figures, we can compare the total weight of the balloons to the maximum weight a balloon can support. If the total weight is greater, then the balloon at the bottom would pop.
Let’s assume we’re dealing with standard party balloons, which typically weigh around 2.2 grams when inflated and can support a weight of about 14 grams before popping.
Let’s calculate the total weight of a million balloons.
The total weight of a million balloons would be approximately 2200 kilograms (or 4850 pounds).
Now, let’s consider the weight a single balloon can support. If a balloon can support about 14 grams before popping, we can calculate how many balloons a single balloon can support. This will give us an idea of whether the bottom balloon in a stack of a million would pop.
The calculation shows that a single balloon could theoretically support the weight of approximately 157,143 balloons before popping.
Given that this number is significantly less than a million, it’s safe to say that the weight of a million balloons stacked on top of each other would indeed be enough to pop the balloon at the bottom. However, this is a simplified model and doesn’t take into account factors such as the distribution of weight, the exact pressure inside each balloon, or the structural integrity of the balloons. In reality, the balloons would likely start to pop or deform long before reaching a stack of a million.
14 g seems way too low. Have you ever tried popping a balloon without a pointy object?
Except maybe if you had a device that can fill and knot a balloon right at the edge of bursting.
A balloon does not pop at 14 grams of pressure. My toddler of 14 kilo grams can stand on one without popping it.
Party balloons won’t burst with just 14 grams. Judging from the party games involving popping balloons by sitting or bumping body parts together, they seem to support a couple kilograms rather than a few grams.
Edit: asked several AIs about this, they all confidently said “14 grams”. It seems they’re mixing how much weight a balloon can lift with how much weight it can stand before popping.