Pressure Law

What you need to know!

Describe how the kinetic model accounts for the pressure of a gas State the relationship between the pressure, of a fixed mass of gas at constant volume, and its temperature Carry out calculations to convert temperature in oC to K and vice versa Explain the pressure-temperature law in terms of the kinetic model

Introduction.
The apparatus opposite has been used to investigate the relationship between temperature and pressure.

What Did You Do?

A volume of air is trapped in a flask, which is immersed in water. The water is heated, increasing the air temperature. The water/air temperature is measured using a thermometer. The air pressure is measured by the Bourdon Gauge joined by a short length of rubber tubing. As the water (and hence air) is heated, the pressure and temperature are noted.

Your Results (Graph #1)

Graph Analysis (Graph #1)

Note the following points:
The graph is linear. There seems to be a relationship between temperature and pressure. The graph does not pass through the origin. i.e. Pressure is not proportional to the Celsius Temperature.

What now?
Extrapolate (extend) the graph of Pressure v Temperature until it meets the x-axis.

Your Results (Graph #2)

Graph Analysis (Graph #2)

The extended line meets the x-axis at a temperature of -2730C. At this temperature, the pressure is zero.

What now?
We now create a new temperature scale, named after Lord Kelvin, On this new scale, we decide that -2730C is equal to zero Kelvin, and the size of one Kelvin is the same as a Celsius degree.

Pressure v Temperature (Kelvin)

0K (-273oC)

273 K (0oC)

Graph Analysis
The graph of Pressure versus the Kelvin Temperature is a straight line passing through the origin. The Pressure is therefore directly proportional to the Temperature in Kelvin The lowest temperature possible is zero Kelvin. This is called Absolute Zero.

Some Maths
P T (when T in Kelvin) P = constant x T P/T = constant

Conclusion
Pressure Law:
the pressure of the gas is directly proportional to its temperature in Kelvin.
(For a fixed mass of gas at constant volume.)

P1 = P2 T1 T2

Example
A fixed mass of air at atmospheric pressure is trapped inside a glass flask at a room temperature of 20 oC. The flask is gently heated until the air temperature is 80 oC. Calculate the pressure of the air inside the flask at this temperature.

Solution
P1= 1.01 x 105 Pa T1= 20 oC = 293 K P2=? T2= 80 oC = 353 K

P1 = P2

T1 T2

1.01 x 105 = P 293 353 P2= 1.22 x 105 Pa

2

What you need to know!

Describe how the kinetic model accounts for the pressure of a gas State the relationship between the pressure, of a fixed mass of gas at constant volume, and its temperature Carry out calculations to convert temperature in oC to K and vice versa Explain the pressure-temperature law in terms of the kinetic model