How is helium used besides being a balloon?

Question

i have a project and it says what are 2 ways to use helium? but i keep on searching and keeps coming up with balloons? :S

Answer 1

There are many uses of the noble gas helium. Mostly in scientific research and stopping chemical reactions at a molecular level.http://www.helium.com/knowledge/2573-the-uses-of-helium

Answer 2

Helium is very important in the world of science, and is primarily used as a carrier gas for gas chromatography. Helium, like everything else on Earth, came from a star which exploded. Basically a star fuses Hydrogen in order to create Helium which is then fused to create Lithium etc. Once a star explodes, all of these elements are scattered throughout the universe, and through the force of gravity, come together in order to create planets, stars etc. Helium found on earth is located underground, under beds of limestone, granite or any other bedrock and must be mined. Helium is irreplaceable once used, so yes, we are running out of it. However, when certain radioactive elements decay, they release alpha particles which are helium atoms.

Answer 3

Helium is an inert gas with a high thermal conductivity for a gas. The only gas which beats it in thermal conductivity is Hydrogen, but Hydrogen is highly chemically reactive.



For this reason, it can be an advantage to perform manufacturing of contact thermal resistance sensitive devices, such that fitting them in a background of helium will result in less contact thermal resistance than fitting them in a background of air.





Another theorized method helium can be used (besides balloons and blimps) is also due to its conductivity. It can be used as a gaseous coolant for nuclear reactors, and capture the heat of the nuclear reaction such that it can be used in gas phase power cycles.

Answer 4

Apparently you were not taught how to use this vast Internet for basic research. If you were able to use the Internet effectively, you would be in a position to answer this question instead of ask it.



Type the word "helium" in your favorite search engine and you will discover that this gas is used for leak detection, fire retardant, welding, as a coolant, etc. as shown in the source below. There are many other sources, as I hope you will discover.

Answer 5

Because of the small size of the helium atom, and its rarity in the atmosphere, helium is used to detect leaks in fluid (gas or liquid) systems. When a system of pipes, valves, etc. has been assembled and is supposedly free of leaks, helium is pumped into it and a helium-detecting instrument "sniffs" around joints to see if any is leaking out.



Google "helium leak detection".

Answer 6

Blimps

Rocket Fuel

Welding

Answer 7

You can use it as a lighter-than-air gas to fill balloons, AND you can use it to magically and temporarily transform yourself into a talking chipmunk.