You have two balloons. One large 30 cm in diameter and one small 15 cm in diamet

Question

 You have two balloons. One large 30 cm in diameter and one small 15 cm in diameter filled with helium. Both balloons are made of the same material (latex). And they have the same unfilled material thickness (2 mm) and have a 3 cm diameter. You release both balloons at sea level and they begin to float. As the balloon floats, the pressure that it is exposed to will change and so will the temperature. These changes in pressure will affect the size of the balloon. The change in the balloon size will affect the thickness of the material, which will influence the surface tension that the material can withstand.  

 Q: Plot the diameter of the balloon as a function of height. At what height will the balloons explode? What was the velocity of the balloon when that happened? 

Explanation / Answer

As the balloon rises, the air in the atmosphere gets thinner. At some point in altitude (around 28,000 feet according to one site listed below), the air pressure inside the balloon is greater than the air pressure outside the ballon. When that happens.. POP. I should also mention that wind currents can play a degree as well, since the cold air can cause the latex to become stiff sooner than its maximum stretching point and thus burst earlier.

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