Section 5 - Particle Theory And Pressure In Gases

Question 1

Describe how pressure in a gas happens?

Answer 1

As gas particles move about they randomly bang into each other and whatever else is in their way. whenever they collide with something they exert a force on it and their momentum and direction change. So in a sealed container, the gas particles smash against the containers walls creating an outward pressure.

Question 2

How can you increase pressure?

Answer 2

By heating up the gas and increasing the kinetic energy of the particles. So, this increases how fast and how often the particles hit the walls of the container.

You can also increase the pressure by decreasing the volume available for the same amount of particles. This squishes the particles causing them to hit the walls of the container more often, hence pressure increases.

Question 3

How does temperature (in kelvins) relate to pressure?

Answer 3

They are proportional to each other. In that if you double the temperature in kelvins then you double the pressure.

Question 4

What is the equation for a fixed mass of gas at a constant pressure?

Answer 4

Pressure * volume = constant

P1V1 = P2V2

Question 5

What is the equation of the gas in a sealed container.

Answer 5

Pressure / temperature (in K) = constant

P1/T1 = P2/T2