Tue M.

Hoang
Science II Block 5
Becky Wynne
6 February 2014
Boyle’s Law Lab Report
1) Data Table:

2) Graph:
(Enclosed)

3) Answers to Questions:
1. What is the relation between P and V as shown by your experiment?
(Reference your graphs and the PV data column to support your answer.)
The relation between P and V, as shown by the above data table and graph of
column “1/Volume”, is inversely proportional. What is meant by this is: when
the temperature is held constant, the pressure and volume of a gas are
inversely related. If the volume increases, the pressure decreases and vice
versa.
2. What is the value of the PV constant for your sample of air? (If your PV
constant is not constant discuss some possible reasons why it is not.)
 The PV values for my sample of air: k = P*V, which is shown in the column
P*V in the data table above. The PV values are not constant, which is
probably due to the derivation of pressure as the application of force to the
surface of the gas syringe varies over each experimental trial.

3. What experimental conditions might change the value of the PV constant?

Give two examples of actions that you could perform on your gas sample that
would change the PV constant measured. Make specific predictions how
making each of these changes would affect the PV constant.
Experimental conditions that might change the value of the PV constant:
apply different force each time to the gas syringe, and therefore different
pressure variations. Or we can vary the speed of which we apply different
pressures to the gas syringe, which might also result in pressure variations.
Specific predictions: the more pressure the variation yields, the higher the PV
constant.

4. Discuss possible sources of error in this experiment. Be specific about each

error’s effect on your results.
Possible sources of errors:
- Calibration errors: errors during the setting up of sensory instruments and
their calibration to correct data and units. This might lead to unusually large
or small data, which we had experienced ourselves during conducting the lab
experiment.
- Errors in adjusting the pressure in the gas syringe: errors may occur if the
gas syringe is pressed either too fast, too slow, or over the mark that is
supposed for the pressing to be stopped.