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The Physics of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons

Wired
Summary
Nutrition label

59% Informative

Parade balloons seem to cheat physics in order to move through the sky.

It is because of physics that they are able to float.

There is indeed a force pulling down on these massive balloons.

This gravitational force is proportional to the mass of the object.

Even with so great a downward force, the balloons stay aloft.

Bigger balloons might make it easier to float but it adds other issues.

Out-of-control balloons are bad, but these balloons still have mass.

If a balloon uses 12,000 cubic feet of helium, that is about 55 kilograms of mass.

When a 200-kilogram balloon crashes into a lamp post, the lamp post can easily topple over.

VR Score

48

Informative language

38

Neutral language

48

Article tone

informal

Language

English

Language complexity

20

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

detected

Time-value

long-living

Source diversity

1

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