Thermal energy can drastically affect the properties of a gas. Have you ever wondered why a balloon in a hot car will expand? Or why air has to be released from car tires in the summer and added in the winter? The reason for these physical phenomena can be explained using the gas laws.
Gas Pressure and volume are affected by temperature changes. These are demonstrated by Charles’ Law, which states that with constant pressure, volume increases as temperature increases, and Gay-Lussac’s Law, which states that with constant volume, pressure increases as temperature increases. In Boyle’s Law, Pressure and volume are inversely correlated, which means as volume increases pressure will decrease and vice versa. Furthermore Avogadro’s Law states that with constant pressure and temperature, volume and the molar amount of a gas are directly related, when one increases so will the other and vice versa. Combining all of these laws and using some simple algebra we can show the ideal gas law.
In this lesson students will use sensor technology to learn about the ideal gas law. Students will collect data, complete analysis of data, and create an ideal gas law problem using data collected.
Author: Nancy Cattrell