Experiment – Simulation of an ideal gas

Real gases – such as air – can behave like an ideal gas under certain circumstances: specifically,
at high temperatures and low pressures. These cases will not be explored here; rather, you will
use a simulation to model an ideal gas.

Questions to think about

1. State your dependent variable.

Pressure (in kPa).

2. State your independent variable.

Temperature (in ˚C).

3. Identify the factors that you should control.

Number of molecules, temperature and volume (should be kept

constant).

4. Describe what type of graph you will aim to get. Predict what your
graph should look like.

Since we hold volume constant, the graph should obey Gay-

Lussac’s law (p/T=constant) and be a positive linear function: the
greater the temperature (x-axis), the greater the pressure (y-axis).

To measure your variables:

a) Temperature: the temperature is measured by the thermometer on top, and can be displayed in
either Kelvin or degrees Celsius. Choose degrees Celsius (°C).

To modify the temperature, pull on the lever that says ‘Heat’ and ‘Cool’ below the container.
The temperature will be adjusted accordingly.

Since this is a simulation, you can quickly get a lot of data. Aim to register at least ten different
values of temperature.

-67˚C, -55˚C, -28˚C, 13˚C, 18˚C, 27˚C, 34˚C, 40˚C, 65˚C, 70˚C, 99˚C

b) Pressure: the value for pressure is given by the manometer attached to the container. The SI
unit for pressure is the pascal, Pa (and this is the unit you will normally work with, in IB tests).
In this simulation, the pressure can be measured in either kilopascal (kPa) or atmospheres (atm).
One atmosphere is equivalent to 101,325 Pa.

The linear relationship between pressure and temperature holds no matter what units you choose
for pressure, so you can use either kPa or atm.

When you start running the simulation, you will see that the pressure does not stay constant.
Rather, it oscillates depending on how often the particles crash against the wall.

Get a couple of readings of pressure (at least 3) for each temperature and get their average. Make
sure to record both the highest and lowest pressure observed at each temperature.
 - -67˚C: highest – 4103±37.5kPa, lowest – 4028±37.5kPa, others – 4076kPa, 4039kPa,
average – 4061.5kPa
- -55˚C: highest – 4346±38kPa, lowest – 4270±38kPa, others – 4342kPa, 4305kPa,
average – 4315.75kPa
- -28˚C: highest – 4873±33kPa, lowest – 4807±33kPa, others – 4866kPa, 4850kPa,
average – 4849kPa
- 13˚C: highest – 5677±35kPa, lowest – 5607±35kPa, others - 5647kPa, 5654kPa,
average – 5646.25kPa
- 27˚C: highest – 5958±34kPa, lowest – 5890±34kPa, others – 5923kPa, 5940kPa,
average – 5927.75kPa
- 34˚C: highest – 6097±33kPa, lowest – 6031±33kPa, others – 6036kPa, 6088kPa,
average – 6063kPa
- 40˚C: highest – 6213±33.5kPa, lowest – 6146±33.5kPa, others – 6185kPa, 6207kPa,
average – 6187.75kPa
- 65˚C: highest – 6709±31.5kPa, lowest – 6646±31.5kPa, others – 6697kPa, 6687kPa,
average – 6684.75kPa
- 70˚C: highest – 6789±30kPa, lowest – 6729±30kPa, others – 6745kPa, 6756kPa,
average – 6754.75kPa
- 99˚C: highest – 7360±31kPa, lowest – 7298±31kPa, others – 7340kPa, 7319kPa,
average – 7329.25kPa

Step 5. Arrange your data into a table and work out the uncertainty for your variables.
 Celsi Kilopa
us scal
-67 4061,5
4315,7
-55 5
-28 4849
5646,2
13 5
5927,7
27 5
34 6063
6187,7
40 5
6684,7
65 5
6754,7
70 5
7329,2
99 5

Plot a graph of your data to observe the relationship between the pressure and the temperature.
You now have an equation that models the relationship between the average pressure of an ideal
gas and its temperature in degrees Celsius. How can you evaluate whether this is a reasonable
equation? You could try looking at the characteristics of your equation.

5392.7/19.659=274.3˚C

(274.3-273.15)/273.15*100=0.42% (uncertainty)

Questions to think about

1. Deduce what information the y-intercept of your equation gives you.

The pressure (in kPa) when the temperature is 0˚C.

2. Deduce what information the x-intercept of your equation gives you.

When there’s 0kPa, x=5392.7/19.659=274.3˚C (supposed “absolute

zero”).

3. Deduce what information the slope of your equation gives you.

When the temperature increases/decreases by 1˚C, the pressure

increases/decreases by 19.569.