Topic 5 - Particle Theory and Pressure in Gases

Question 1

how do gas particles create pressure?

Answer 1

as gas particles move about they bang into each other and anything else in the container. when they collide with something they exert a force on it and their momentum and direction change. in a sealed container, gas particles smash against the containers walls, creating outward pressure.

Question 2

what happens to pressure when you heat a gas?

Answer 2

particles move faster and have more energy in their kinetic stores. this means they hit the container walls harder and more frequently, resulting in a larger force, which creates more pressure.

Question 3

what is the relationship between temperature (K) and pressure in a gas?

Answer 3

they are proportional for a fixed amount of gas
at a constant volume:
- pressure / temperature = constant
- starting pressure / starting temperature = final pressure / final temperature

Question 4

what is the relationship between pressure and volume of a gas?

Answer 4

for a fixed mass of gas at a constant temperature:
- pressure x volume = constant
- starting pressure x starting volume = final pressure x final volume