How many people can a blimp carry | Perimeter, area, and volume | Geometry | Khan Academy

TL;DR

Helium-filled blimps use the buoyancy of helium, which is less dense than air, to stay afloat.

Transcript

A helium-filled blimp stays aloft since helium is less dense than regular air. So helium will rise above regular air. That was a strangely-phrased first sentence, but they're just saying helium is less dense, so helium will rise relative to regular air. The density of helium is about 1.1 kilograms per meter cubed less than regular air. Which means ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😒 Helium is less dense than regular air, making it suitable for use in blimps to provide buoyancy.
• 🥹 The lifting capacity of a helium-filled blimp depends on the mass of the blimp and the amount of helium it can hold.
• 😘 A cubic meter of helium can lift about 1.1 kilograms due to its lower density compared to regular air.
• ☺️ The maximum load for a blimp with a mass of 2.11 x 10^5 kilograms is 90 people and their luggage.
• ❓ Buoyancy is a crucial concept in understanding how helium-filled blimps stay aloft.
• 🤒 The density of helium is about 1.1 kilograms per cubic meter less than regular air.
• 👱 The buoyant force exerted on a blimp is equal to the weight of the air it displaces.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does helium allow a blimp to stay afloat?

Helium is less dense than regular air, so it rises above it, providing buoyancy to the blimp.

Q: How much weight can a cubic meter of helium lift?

A cubic meter of helium can lift about 1.1 kilograms due to its lower density compared to regular air.

Q: What determines the lifting capacity of a helium-filled blimp?

The lifting capacity depends on the mass of the blimp and the amount of helium it can hold.

Q: How many passengers can a blimp with a mass of 2.11 x 10^5 kilograms carry?

After subtracting the mass of the blimp, which is 2.11 x 10^5 kilograms, the blimp can carry a maximum of 90 people and their luggage.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Helium is less dense than regular air and rises above it, allowing a helium-filled blimp to stay aloft.

• A cubic meter of helium can lift about 1.1 kilograms due to its lower density compared to regular air.

• A blimp with a mass of 2.11 x 10^5 kilograms can carry as much as 2 x 10^5 cubic meters of helium.