Braingle: 'Alien Balloons' Brain Teaser

Alien Balloons

Science brain teasers require understanding of the physical or biological world and the laws that govern it.

Puzzle ID:	#5619
Fun:	(2.77)
Difficulty:	(1.9)
Category:	Science
Submitted By:	im_para_noid
Corrected By:	adam

Aliens have inflated two identical balloons, but one is inflated more than the other. You have the option of being inside the smaller balloon or the larger balloon. Once inside, your captors will join the two balloons by a short length of tubing. Then they will let the air flow freely between the balloons. Does the smaller balloon expand as the larger one shrinks? You have to make the right choice, because, alas, you have claustrophobia and therefore want to choose the balloon that will eventually give you the most room for movement. Which balloon do you choose?

Answer

Choose the larger one, which will get even larger. If you choose the smaller balloon, it will shrink until it completely engulfs you. The smaller balloon has greater elastic force, and will exert a greater inward force. It has greater internal pressure, which is why it is initially more difficult to inflate a balloon than when it has already started expanding.
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Comments

cathalmccabe Jul 25, 2002	You said at the start the two baloons were identical
drworm Jul 26, 2002	Yes, but one of them is inflated more.
missie Jul 26, 2002	Cathal: the two balloons were both red and were 50 cents at Walmart. Their names ar Bob and Bob, and they both have a slight problem with gingerbread.
im_para_noid Jul 27, 2002	sorry missie, but they are actually named George
Mogmatt16 Jul 27, 2002	SMACK DOWN MISSIE!
sanjayscorpio Jul 30, 2002	The answer does not make any sense. Intuitively it is obvious that since the larger balloon is more stretched that it should have higher pressure, so air should flow from the larger to the smaller.
Yoda448 Aug 06, 2002	You're all fools. If both balloons are connected, then they will become the same size. Air will transfer until the pressures are equal.
cathalmccabe Aug 07, 2002	DON'T call me a fool. It was stated that the two baloons were identical therefore they will have the same elastic force and will equalise once connected
majd Aug 18, 2002	I agree with Yoda448, eventually both will be of the same size.
Deucex2 Sep 04, 2002	If you don't believe that it works like that, try it! You'll find very quickly that he's right.
StyLe89 Sep 04, 2002	Identical balloons that are different?
goatboy555 Oct 23, 2002	you all are soooo stupid. elastic force? this has nothing to do with it. i am assuming you did this little experiment on earth. where the pressure was a constant 1 atm. whereas if the balloons were identical and filled with the same substance (ill assume its your hot hot air) then they would become equal unless affected in some outside way. The outside pressure acting upon the balloons would cause this. Its elementary stuff
snaps Nov 18, 2002	The answer given is correct folks. It's one of those situations that is counter-intuitive. Most people think they will equalise, but they don't. It's been done many a time in science classes. As was suggested earlier, do it yourself and you will see.
jimbo Mar 16, 2003	Good teaser. Caught me out at first but then I remembered that I once blew up some balloons at a birthday party. Yep! They do blow back more when they're little! Any one care to use the scientific method? Just one minor point. When the smaller balloon reaches a certain stage of deflation it will cease to shrink further. It won't go down to a vacuum.
Katelin Nov 26, 2003	Don't you just love teasers that people just have to have a huge debate over?
dudebomb93 Oct 29, 2007	NICE ONE