P3D Re: Floating 3D

[roberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (John W Roberts)]

>Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 20:09:21 -0700
>From: Sam Smith <3dhacker@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: P3D Floating 3D

>Does anyone know the lifting power of the average helium-filled party balloon?

>I was pondering the idea of making a couple of ulta-light cameras for hyper
>stereo shots from the air. I feel it's possible to construct cameras out of
>cardboard for single shot application, say spaced two feet apart. The
>shutter would be a simple gullotine arrangement, with simple plastic
>meniscus lenses.

If I recall correctly, 22.4 liters of helium at 1 atmosphere pressure would 
give a lift of about 10.4 grams [Note] (1 atm ambient, 1 gravity). Now you 
need to calculate the pressure in a balloon, the volume of a balloon, and 
the weight of an empty balloon.

Note: Of course "grams of force" does not comply with SI.
0.0104 * 9.81 = ~0.102 Newtons of force from 22.4 liters (0.0224 m^3) helium.

If you have some helium balloons handy, it might be easier to weigh them. :-)

John R


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