What will happen to a balloon filled with air when taken from a cold environment to a warm one near a heater?

When a balloon filled with air is taken from a cold environment to a warmer environment near a heater, the volume of the balloon will increase due to the principles of gas behavior. This phenomenon is primarily explained by Charles's Law, which states that at constant pressure, the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature in Kelvin.

As the temperature increases when the balloon is moved near a heat source, the air molecules inside the balloon gain kinetic energy and move more vigorously. This increased activity causes the air molecules to occupy more space, resulting in an expansion of the balloon. The balloon expands until it reaches the elastic limit where the material of the balloon resists further stretching.

This effect is observable in everyday situations—think of how a balloon fills more completely when warmed, highlighting the relationship between temperature and volume for gases. The opposite is true when a gas is cooled; its volume decreases because the molecules have less energy and are closer together. Therefore, option D accurately describes the behavior of the air in the balloon as it transitions from a cold to a warm environment.