NNPC FSTP Technicians

Physics

Course Code:
Lesson 5
 Contents

Gas Laws
 Performance Objectives 1

Upon completion of this Course, students will be able to:

• Describe the kinetic model of a gas and how it
accounts for the pressure of a gas
• State that the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is
inversely proportional to its volume provided the
temperature remains constant
• Describe an experiment to verify the above
relationship
• Change temperature in C to Kelvin and vice versa
• State that the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is
directly proportional to its temperature in Kelvin
provided its volume remains constant
 Performance Objectives 2

Upon completion of this Course, students will be able to:

• Describe an experiment to verify the above relationship
• State that the volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant
pressure is directly proportional to its temperature
measured in Kelvin, K,
• Describe an experiment to verify the above relationship
• State the General Gas equation and solve problems using
it,
• Explain what is meant by the absolute zero of temperature
• Explain Boyle Low, pressure Low and Charles’ Law in
terms of the kinetic model.
 Pressure in Gases
KINETIC MODEL OF A GAS
In all branches of science it is usual to form some sort of
model which can be used to predict the result of further
experiments.
The kinetic model of an ideal gas is based on the following
assumptions.
1. The gas is composed of a large number of identical
molecules.
2. The molecules are small compared to the space between
them;
3. The molecules are in continual random with high speeds;
4. Collisions between molecules and with the walls of the
container are elastic;
5. There are no forces between the molecules (except
during collision).
 Pressure in Gases

Note:
a) Assumptions 2 and 5 cannot be applied to liquids and solids.
b) Assumption 3 is based on the random movement observed in Brownian
motion experiments.
c) Assumption 2 and 3 are based on the observation of the diffusion of gas
molecules.
d) If assumption 4 were not true the gas would require a continuous input
of energy to enable the molecules to keep moving.
e) In this model the temperature of a gas depends on the average kinetic
of a molecules of the gas. Hence if the temperature of a gas is
increased the average speed of a molecule of the gas increases.
f) The pressure of a gas is caused by the molecules of the gas hitting the
walls of a container. When a molecule bounces off the wall of the
container there is a change in the momentum of the molecule. This
molecule therefore exerts a force on the wall and hence there is a
pressure created on the walls of the container.
 Pressure/Volume for a Gas

• What does our kinetic model predict will happen to the

pressure of a gas if we change the volume of the gas
while keeping its temperature constant?
• Consider our sample of a gas to be in a box, which
can be easily squeezed to reduce its volume.
 Pressure/Volume for a Gas

Since the temperature of the gas remains

constant the average speed of a molecule of the
gas remains constant. The means that the
molecules will undergo the same change in
momentum during each collision in both
situations. If the volume of the container
decreases these collisions will happen more
often. Hence, the pressure on the wall of the
container will increase.
 Pressure/Volume for a Gas

• This model predicts that if we decrease the volume of

a gas the pressure will increase, providing the
temperature remains constant.
• The above prediction can be easily checked using the
apparatus shown below:
 Pressure/Volume for a Gas

In the above apparatus, the pump is used to increase

the pressure (measured on the Bourdon gauge). The oil
moves up the tube, compressing the gas into a smaller
volume (measured on the scale).
 Pressure/Volume for a Gas

Results
1
v cm-3 P x 105 pa v/ cm3 P x V/105
0.99 40.25
1.00 40.00
1.09 37.00
1.12 35.00
1.40 28.60
1.5 27.00

• Enter the results into the columns on either side of

the above table. Using appropriate scales draw a
graph of P ά V and P ά 1/v.
• The graphs produced by the above data are shown
below.
 Pressure/Volume for a Gas

In (a) Pressure against volume is plotted, in (b) Pressure is

plotted against 1/ V and this shows that the pressure of the
trapped gas is inversely proportional to its volume. The full
statement of the law is “the pressure of a fixed mass of gas
varies inversely as the volume provided the temperature
remains constant”.
 Pressure/Volume for a Gas

Stated mathematically, this gives

PV= constant OR P1V1 = P2V2
Where p1 and V1 are the initial pressure and volume of the
gas and p2 and V2 are the final pressure of the volume.
This relationship is known as Boyle’s Law.
Example of Boyle’s Law Question.
A 3-litre cylinder contains gas at a pressure of 40
atmospheres. What volume of gas will be available for use
at normal atmospheric pressure.
P1 = 40 atmospheres
V1 = 3 litres
P2 = 1 atmosphere
 Pressure/Volume for a Gas

Boyle’s Law

P1V1 = P2V2 V2 = (p1v1) / P2

= (40 x 3) / 1
= 120 litres

Note: Although the total volume of gas at 1

atmosphere is 120 litres, the gas available for use is
less than this, as a volume equal to the size of the
container will remain within the container; once the
pressure inside and outside the container is the same,
no more gas will escape.
 Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas

Pressure / Temperature Law for a Gas

What dose the kinetic model suggests will happen to

the pressure of a fixed volume of gas as its
temperature is increased?

Consider a gas in a rigid container. i. e. fixed volume.

When the temperature of a gas is increased the
average kinetic energy of a molecule increases. The
average speed of a molecule of the gas therefore
increases.
 Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas

This increase in speed has two effects.

(a) The change in momentum (2mv) increases when
the molecule hits the rebounds from the walls of
the container. This means that molecule exert a
greater force on the wall; i. e. hits the walls harder.
(b) Since the molecules are moving faster, they hit the
walls of the container more often.
Both of these effects lead to an increase in pressure
as the temperature of the gas is increased.
This can be verified and relationship established using
the apparatus (a) or ( b) shown below:
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
 Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas

The water is heated and the pressure increases. The

table on the right shows the pressure reading record at
different temperatures.
Care should be taken that the pressure tubing has a
very small volume so that most of the gas is at
temperature of bath water.
Sufficient time is allowed for the temperature and
pressure of the gas to stabilise before readings are
taken.
The results of the experiment when plotted give a
graph of the type shown in figure below:
 Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas

The graph of the experimental data is a straight line

which dose not pass through the origin. When this line
is extrapolated it cuts the temperature axis at – 273 0
C. This implies that at a temperature of - 273 0 C the
pressure of the fixed mass of will be zero.
 Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas

The molecules of the gas have no kinetic energy so on

more energy can be taken from the gas to cool it
further. This defines the absolute zero of temperature.
The absolute zero of temperature is use to define the
Kelvin scale of temperature.
Temperature in Kelvin = temperature 0 C + 273

Figure (b) shows the result of plotting the experiment

data with the temperature converted to Kelvin. If the
straight line is extrapolated, i.e., extended, it passes
through the origin. This graph establishes the law that
“the pressure of a fixed mass of gas at constant
volume varies as its temperature in Kelvin.”
 Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Mathematically this is
P = a constant OR P1 = P2
T T1 T2

Where P1and T1 are the initial temperature and

pressure and P2 and T2 are the final temperature and
pressure. The temperature must be in Kelvin.
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Pressure/Temperature Law
for a Gas
Gas Law Practice Questions
Gas Law Practice Questions
 Gas Law Practice Questions

10. A given mass of air occupies a volume of 0.5 m3 at

a pressure of 500 kpa and a temperature of 20 0C
Find the volume of air at STP (T = 0o C, p = 1.05 x
105).
11. A spherical vessel has a diameter of 2.0 m and
contain hydrogen at a pressure of 300 kpa and a
temperature of 30 0 C . Determine the mass of
hydrogen in the vessel. Assume the gas constant R
for hydrogen is 4160 J/KgK.
12. A quantity of gas in a cylinder occupies 1.26 m3 at a
temperature of 900 C and pressure of 120 kPa.
Determine the volume of the gas at 200 C if the
pressure is increased to 320 kPa.
 Gas Law Practice Questions

13. A cylinder of 200 mm in diameter and 1.5 m long

contains oxygen at a pressure of 2 MPa and a
temperature 200C. Determine the mass of oxygen in the
cylinder. Assume the characteristic gas constant for
oxygen is 260 j/kgk.
14. A gas is pumped into an empty cylinder of volume 0.1
m3 until the pressure is 5 Mpa. The temperature of the
gas is 400 C. If the cylinder mass increases by 5.32 kg
when the gas has been added, determine the value of
the characteristic gas constant.
15. The mass of gas is 1.2 kg and it occupies a volume of
13.45 m3 at STP. Determine its characteristic gas
constant.