1. Helium was the cause of the Hindenburg explosion. (True or False)
Answer: False
Hydrogen was the culprit in the Hindenburg disaster. The U.S. was (and is) the world's largest helium producer. The Germans asked to buy helium for use in their airships, but the U.S. government was wary of other uses they might have had in mind. The Germans instead used hydrogen, which is more buoyant but also very reactive.
2. In 1915, helium cost $2500 per cubic foot. How much did it cost in 1940 (per cubic foot)?
Answer: 1.5 cents
Hope nobody in your family invested in it.
3. Inhaled helium causes your vocal cords to constrict, giving you a voice much higher in pitch. (True or False)
Answer: False
It does give you a high, funny voice. But it does so by changing the speed of sound in your throat.
4. In order of abundance in the universe, where is helium ranked among elements?
Answer: 2nd
Although rare in our atmosphere, helium is quite common in stars, being the 'exhaust' of hydrogen fusion.
5. What does helium mean?
Answer: sun
From the Greek 'helios'.
