Question

Can someone please explain what happens to the atoms in a balloon when you place it in the freezer

Answer 1

Hello @blahhh222 !

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Answer 2

When you keep a balloon in the freezer then the thermal kinetic energy of the atoms decreases and thus they come close to each other due to mutual attractive forces of the atoms. The random/Brownian movement of particles also decreases.

Answer 3

@Abhisar
Atoms do not normally have a mutually attractive force.

The kinetic energy of the molecules of gas decreases, because each time a molecule hits the (cold) surface of the balloon it loses a little thermal energy.

A result of this is that the NEXT time it strikes the surface it exerts less force on the surface, and since pressure = force/area this is seen as a reduction in the pressure on the surface.

Less pressure means the balloon contracts due to its elasticity, reducing the volume

You can also use the equation for the gas PV/T = constant. However, all 3 variables are changing simultaneously - so it is a complex system to describe mathematically and depends on the characteristics of the gas AND the balloon