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You are here: Home / Science / Is helium weightless because it is lighter than air?

Is helium weightless because it is lighter than air?

March 13, 2020 by Karen Hill

Helium is the second lightest gas in the universe.

Hydrogen’s the lightest. Both gases have mass and therefore weight.

It just so happens that they weigh less than air. Because of that, the heavier air sinks below them, pushing them upward— much in the same way that water flows below Styrofoam and pushes it toward the surface.

If released into the air, helium and hydrogen atoms will rise up toward the top of the earth’s atmosphere.

If captured inside a balloon, the gas will do the same.

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  • Why Do Helium Balloons Deflate So Quickly and How Do Balloons Filled With Air Stay Inflated Longer?
  • Who Discovered the Existence of Molecules and How different atoms are attached to form a Molecule?
  • Why does breathing helium make you sound like a chipmunk?
  • What Would a Bagpipe Sound Like If It Was Played In the Helium Oxygen Mix Used By Deep Sea Divers?
  • Why Are Some Things Heavier Than Others and Why Is Helium Lighter Than Air?

Filed Under: Science

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What is a quark and when was it discovered?
Next Post: Is air weightless and do gasses have mass? »

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