Why does a balloon fly forward?

Question

I don't really know what this means, but we have to do it for our home-work!!! If you understand Please Help Me!!

Answer 1

I believe you are referring to the classic problem where a balloon is suspended inside a closed automobile. When the automobile accelerates, the question is - does the balloon drift forward or back?

And the answer is that the balloon drifts forward relative to the automobile because of a slight gradient in air pressure within the car that develops due to the acceleration. There are variables like the mass of the balloon itself, etc., but in general I believe the answer is correct.

Answer 2

I think Larry has the answer, except to mention that if the balloon is filled with helium, a gas which is lighter than air, the balloon moves forward when the automobile accelerates because the air in the automobile, being heavier, moves towards the back and displaces the balloon forward. When braking occurs, the air moves forward and the balloon moves backward.

Answer 3

Do you possibly mean an inflated balloon that flies forward when you release it from the neck?  In that case, it is because the balloon is recoiling forward due to the air being expelled out of the neck of the balloon by the internal air pressure.

Answer 4

Newton's 3rd Law of Motion: every action has an equal and opposite reaction.