Which is greater, the buoyant force that acts on an elephant, or on a helium-filled party balloon? Explain why the balloon rises in air and the elephant doesn't
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: The buoyant force exerted by the atmosphere on any body is equal to the weight of air displaced. Since an elephant has more volume, it displaces more air and has a greater buoyant force on it than the buoyant force on the smaller helium-filled balloon. Whether or not something rises has to do with the relative magnitudes of the buoyant force and the force due to gravity. Aha, the force of gravity on the elephant is enormously greater than the buoyant force on the elephant. So gravity wins and the elephant is pressed to the surface. But for the balloon, its weight is less than the small buoyant force it experiences. Buoyant force wins and the balloon rises.
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