Priya is standing on the ground holding a helium-filled balloon on a string, and she notices that the balloon floats upward. She then hands the balloon to her tall friend Kwame, who is standing next to her. What happens to the balloon when Kwame holds onto the string?
Provide a very brief response.
When Kwame, who is taller than Priya, holds the balloon, it still floats upward. The balloon rises because the helium inside is less dense than the surrounding air, which creates an upward buoyant force, and this force is independent of who is holding the string. The difference in height between Priya and Kwame does not affect the balloon's ability to float. The physical principle of buoyancy applies in the same way regardless of the person holding the string. Therefore, the balloon's behavior remains consistent--it floats upward regardless of whether Priya or Kwame is holding it.