The zeppelin Hindenburg exploded on May 6, 1937, in Lakehurst, New Jersey. The accident was due to this type of dirigible using hydrogen (density of H2, M = 2g/mol) as a gas. It carried up to 70 passengers and crew. Estimate how many passengers and crew the Hindenburg could have carried had they used helium gas (density He, M = 4 g/mol) instead.

Question

The zeppelin Hindenburg exploded on May 6, 1937, in Lakehurst, New Jersey. The accident was due to this type of dirigible using hydrogen (density of H2, M = 2g/mol) as a gas. It carried up to 70 passengers and crew. Estimate how many passengers and crew the Hindenburg could have carried had they used helium gas (density He, M = 4 g/mol) instead.

Answer 1

I answered this question yesterday. As I told you before, the volume of the Hindenburg must be known, and the average weight per passenger (including luggage and aircraft seat weight) must be estimated.

Answer 2

To estimate how many passengers and crew the Hindenburg could have carried if helium gas had been used instead of hydrogen, we need to compare the lifting capacities of the two gases.

The lifting capacity of a gas in a dirigible is determined by the difference in density between the gas and the surrounding air. The greater the density difference, the more lifting capacity the gas provides. The density of air is approximately 1.2 kg/m^3.

First, we need to calculate the lifting capacity of hydrogen gas. The difference in density between hydrogen and air is:

Density difference = (Density of air) - (Density of hydrogen)

Density difference = 1.2 kg/m^3 - (2 g/mol / 1000 g/kg) / (22.4 L/mol)

Density difference = 1.2 kg/m^3 - 0.0893 kg/m^3

Density difference = 1.1107 kg/m^3

Next, we can calculate the lifting capacity of helium gas using the same process:

Density difference = 1.2 kg/m^3 - (4 g/mol / 1000 g/kg) / (22.4 L/mol)

Density difference = 1.2 kg/m^3 - 0.1785 kg/m^3

Density difference = 1.0215 kg/m^3

Now, we can calculate the maximum lifting capacity of the Hindenburg if helium gas had been used:

Maximum lifting capacity = (Density difference of helium) / (Density difference of hydrogen) * (Maximum lifting capacity of hydrogen)

Maximum lifting capacity = (1.0215 kg/m^3) / (1.1107 kg/m^3) * (70 passengers and crew)

Maximum lifting capacity ≈ 60 passengers and crew

Therefore, if helium gas had been used instead of hydrogen, it is estimated that the Hindenburg could have carried up to 60 passengers and crew.