Chapter 1: Q67P (page 394)
The densities of air, helium, and hydrogen (at p = 1.0 atm and T = 20掳C) areand , respectively. (a) What is the volume in cubic meters displaced by a hydrogen-filled airship that has a total 鈥渓ift鈥 of 90.0 kN? (The 鈥渓ift鈥 is the amount by which the buoyant force exceeds the weight of the gas that fills the airship.) (b) What would be the 鈥渓ift鈥 if helium were used instead of hydrogen? In view of your answer, why is helium used in modern airships like advertising blimps?
Short Answer
(a) The total volume displaced by hydrogen filled airship is
(b) The lift in the airship when helium was used instead of hydrogen is . The density of helium is greater than hydrogen. But it lifts less than hydrogen. Hydrogen is not used because it is highly explosive in the air.