4.

4 UNDERSTANDING THE GAS LAW

By the end of this subtopic; you will be able to :
 Explain gas pressure, temperature and volume in terms of the behavior of gas
molecules.
 Determine the relationship between
(i) pressure and volume
(ii) volume and temperature
(iii) pressure and temperature
 Explain absolute zero and the absolute/Kelvin scale of temperature
 Solve problems involving pressure, temperature and volume of a fixed mass of gas

1. Complete the table below.

Property of gas Explanation

Volume,V  The molecules move freely in random motion and fill up
 3
m the whole space in the container.
 The volume of the gas is equal to the volume of the
container
Temperature,T  The molecules are in continuous random motion and have

K (Kelvin) an average kinetic energy which is proportional to the
temperature.
Pressure,P  The molecules are in continuous random motion.

Pa(Pascal)  When a molecules collides with the wall of the container
and bounces back, there is a change in momentum and a force
is exerted on the wall
 The force per unit area is the pressure of gas

2. The kinetic theory of gas is based on the following assumptions:

(a) The molecules in a gas move freely in random motion and posses kinetic energy
(b) The force of attraction between the molecules are ignored.
(c) The collisions of the molecules with each other and with the walls of the container
are elastic collisions
4.4.1 Boyle’s Law

Pα1
V
That is PV = constant Small volume
molecules hit wall
Or P V = P V more often, greater
1 1 2 2
pressure

Relationship between pressure and volume

1. Boyle’s law states that for a fixed mass of gas, the pressure of the gas is inversely
proportional to its volume when the temperature is kept constant.
2. Boyle’s law can be shown graphically as in Figure above
P
P

0 V 0 1/V

(a) P inversely proportional to V (b) P directly proportional to 1/V

3. The volume of an air bubble at the base of a sea of 50 m deep is 250cm 3. If the
atmospheric pressure is 10m of water, find the volume of the air bubble when it
reaches the surface of the sea.

P2= 10m
P1V1 = P2V2
60m (250 x 10-6)m3 = 10m x V2
PI=50m + 10m
1.5 x 10-3 m3 = V2

V1=250cm3
4.4.2 Charles’s Law

VαT
that is V = constant
T

Higher temperature,
Relationship between faster molecules,
volume and temperature larger volume to keep
the pressure constant

Lower temperature

1. Charles’ law states that for a fixed mass of gas, the volume of the gas is directly
proportional to its absolute temperature when its pressure is kept constant.
2. The temperature -2730C is the lowest possible temperature and is known as the
absolute zero of temperature.
3. Fill the table below.
Temperature Celsius scale (0C) Kelvin Scale(K)
Absolute zero -273 0
Ice point 0 273
Steam point 100 373
Unknown point θ ( θ + 273 )

4. Complete the diagram below. P/Pa

-273 100 θ/0C

0
4.4.3 Pressure’s Law

Pα T
That is P = constant
T
Higher
temperature
molecules move
faster, greater
Relationship between pressure
pressure and temperature

1. The pressure law states that for a fixed mass of gas, the pressure of the gas is
directly proportional to its absolute temperature when its volume is kept constant.

EXERSICE 4.4Gas Law

1. A mixture of air and petrol vapour is injected into the cylinder of a car engine
when the cylinder volume is 100 cm3. Its pressure is then 1.0 atm. The valve closes and
the mixture is compressed to 20 cm3. Find the pressure now.
P1V1 = P2V2
(1.0)(100) = P2(20)
P2 = 5.0 atm

2. The volume of an air bubble at the base of a sea of 50 m in deep is 200 cm 3. If the
atmospheric pressure is 10 m of water, find the volume of the air bubble when it reaches
the surface of the sea.
P1V1 = P2V2
(50 +10)(200) = (10)V2
V2 = 1200 cm3

3. The volume of an air bubble is 5 mm 3 when it is at a depth of h m below the water

surface. Given that its volume is 15 mm3 when it is at a depth of 2 m, find the value of h.
(Atmospheric pressure = 10 m of water)
 P1V1 = P2V2
(h + 10)(5) = (2 + 10)(15)
5h + 50 = 180
h = 26 m

4. An air bubble has a volume of V cm 3 when it is released at a depth of 45m from

the water surface. Find its volume (V) when it reaches the water surface. (Atmospheric
pressure = 10 m of water)
P1V1 = P2V2
(45 + 10)(V) = (10)(V2)
V2 = 5.5 V cm3

5. A gas of volume 20m3 at 370C is heated until its temperature becomes 870C at
constant pressure. What is the increase in volume?
V1 = V2 , 20 = V2 .

0 0
T1 T2 37 + 273 87 + 273
V2 = 23.23 m3

6. The air pressure in a container at 33 0C is 1.4 X 1O5 N m-2. The container is heated
until the temperature is 550C. What is the final air pressure if the volume of the container
is fixed?
P1 = P2 , 1.4 x 105 = P2 .

T1 T2 330 + 273 550 + 273

P2 = 1.5 x 105 N m-2

7. The volume of a gas is 1 cm3 at 150C. The gas is heated at fixed pressure until the
volume becomes triple the initial volume. Calculate the final temperature of the gas.
V1 = V2 , 1 = 3 .

0
T1 T2 15 + 273 T2
 T2 =864K
T2 =2 + 273
2 = T2 – 273
= 864 - 273
2 = 591 0C

8. An enclosed container contains a fixed mass of gas at 250C and at the atmospheric
pressure. The container is heated and temperature of the gas increases to 980C. Find the
new pressure of the gas if the volume of the container is constant.(Atmospheric pressure
= 1.0 X 105N rn2)
P1 = P2 , 1.0 x 105 = P2 .

T1 T2 250 + 273 980 + 273

P2 = 1.24 x 105 N m2

9. The pressure of a gas decreases from 1.2 x 10 5 Pa to 9 x 105 Pa at 400C. If the

volume of the gas is constant, find the initial temperature of the gas.
P1 = P2 , 1.2 x 105 = 9 x 105 .

T1 T2 1 + 273 400 + 273

1 = -231.3 0C
= 41.7K