When a gas filled balloon is cooled, it shrinks in volume; this occurs no matter what gas is originally placed in the balloon. Why? I was thinking maybe because the number of collisions are less and so the slower moving particles aren't hitting the walls and stretching the balloon as much?
You are on the right track. Not only are there fewer collisions but the molecules are moving slower.
To fully understand why a gas-filled balloon shrinks in volume when cooled, we need to consider the behavior of gas molecules and how temperature affects them.
In a gas, molecules move around randomly and at high speeds. When the gas is heated, the molecules gain energy, move faster, and collide frequently with the walls of their container (in this case, the inside of the balloon). These collisions create pressure, which inflates the balloon and increases its volume.
When the gas-filled balloon is cooled, however, the opposite happens. The decrease in temperature causes a reduction in the molecules' kinetic energy, slowing down their movement. As a result, the number of collisions with the walls decreases, lowering the pressure inside the balloon.
At a lower temperature, the gas molecules have less kinetic energy to push against the balloon's walls, causing it to shrink in volume. The slower-moving molecules exert less force on the inside surface of the balloon, resulting in a decrease in internal pressure.
It's important to note that this behavior is true for all gases, not just a specific gas. The effect is due to the fundamental nature of gas molecules and their response to changes in temperature.
In summary, a gas-filled balloon shrinks in volume when cooled because the decrease in temperature reduces the kinetic energy and speed of gas molecules. With slower movement, there are fewer collisions with the walls of the balloon, leading to a decrease in pressure and consequently causing the balloon to shrink.