The Phenomenon of Helium Diffusion in a Glass Tank

Helium Diffusion Process

When one side of a glass tank contains 40% helium and the other side contains 20% helium, and they are connected by a tube, the helium molecules will begin to diffuse from the side with a higher concentration to the side with a lower concentration.

This is due to the natural tendency of gases to mix and spread out evenly in response to concentration gradients. As the helium molecules move through the tube, they will gradually equalize the concentration of helium between the two sides.

Eventually, the molecules will become evenly distributed, resulting in both sides having the same concentration of helium. The process continues until there is no net movement of helium molecules between the two sides, which signifies that an equilibrium has been reached and the concentrations are equalized.

By understanding the phenomenon of helium diffusion in a glass tank, we can observe how gases naturally strive to create balance and equalize concentrations in a system.