Lesson 4 of 8 · Thermodynamics
Experiment⭐ 30 XPThe Particle Model and Gas Pressure
Thermodynamics.
🎯 Your mission
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
⚡ The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
What You'll Learn
Gas pressure comes from particles colliding with container walls. Heat the gas and the particles move faster, hitting harder and more often, so pressure rises. Shrink the container and collisions become more frequent, which is the origin of Boyle's law.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- sealed syringe
- pressure gauge
- clamp
Safety First
- Do not force the plunger past the gauge's range.
- Wear eye protection in case a connection blows off.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Seal a syringe of air and press the plunger to half its volume while reading a pressure gauge. Record pressure against volume for five positions and check whether the product pV stays roughly constant.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2Halving a gas's volume at constant temperature makes its pressure:
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
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The Particle Model and Gas Pressure
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
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