inflating

Inflating is the act of increasing the size, volume, or extent of an object by filling it with air or other gas, or by expanding a substance. It is accomplished by introducing gas or energy to the target until its dimensions increase or internal pressure reaches a desired level.

Everyday examples include inflating balloons, tires, air mattresses, watercraft rafts, and airbags. Inflation is typically achieved with a pump, nozzle, or a chemical reaction that generates gas inside a sealed or semi-sealed container.

In physics and engineering, the outcome of inflation depends on container rigidity and gas laws. For flexible containers, volume grows as gas is added and internal pressure approaches external pressure, while the container’s material exerts restoring tension. For rigid vessels, added gas raises pressure according to PV = nRT. Temperature changes affect both pressure and volume.

In economics, inflation refers to a sustained rise in the general price level over time, reducing purchasing power. It is measured by indexes such as the consumer price index and is influenced by monetary policy, supply and demand dynamics, and expectations. The informal use of inflating describes prices rising.

Safety and quality considerations include avoiding overinflation, which can burst containers or cause tires to fail; underinflation reduces efficiency. The term derives from Latin inflare, to blow into.