Question

In which situation must you do more work: inflating a balloon at sea level or inflating the same balloon to the same volume at the summit of Mt. McKinley? Explain in terms of pressure and volume change.

Short answer

You would do more work inflating a balloon at sea level due to the increased amount of pressure experienced at sea level to high atop a mountain.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1:

On top of the mountain, you would find it much easier to expand the balloon to the desired volume. This effect can be seen by releasing balloons into the air and experimentally detecting an increase in size,due to the significant pressure difference in the air in the balloon, and the air outside of it.

Step 2:

Therefore, it is much easier to blow the balloon to the desired volume on the top of a mountain as compared to sea level