Basic Science – Physics (R18SC1704)

Gas Laws and Specific Heat of Gases

Gas is one of the three states of matter. In gases intermolecular forces are very weak as such there is no
definite shape and size; therefore the gas can occupy the entire available space. The behavior of gases is governed
by its temperature pressure and volume, where temperature is measured in SI unit i.e. kelvin (K). Keeping one
of these variable constant relations of remaining two variables with each other is given by gas laws. Thus there
are three gas laws.

Boyle’s Law
Boyle law states that at constant temperature for a given mass
of a gas pressure is inversely proportional to volume.
Let 𝑃 be the pressure and 𝑉is the volume of a gas at constant
temperature. Then according to statement, at constant temperature,
1
Pressure ∝ Volume
1
P∝
V
PV = constant
Graphs of pressure against volume at constant temperature are shown in figure above.

If 𝑃1 and 𝑉1 are initial pressure and volume, 𝑃2 and 𝑉2 are final pressure and volume. Then,
𝑃1 𝑉1 = 𝑃2𝑉2
Thus we can write,
𝑃1 𝑉1 = 𝑃2𝑉2 = 𝑃3 𝑉3 = 𝑃4𝑉4 = … … … = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡

Charles’s law
Charles’s law states that at constant pressure for a given mass of a gas volume is
directly proportional to absolute temperature.
Let at constant pressure ‘𝑉’ be the volume of a gas and ‘𝑇’ is absolute temperature. Then
according to statement, at constant pressure,

Volume ∝ Absolute Temperature

V∝𝑇
V
= 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
T
Graph of volume against absolute temperature at constant pressure is shown in figure above.
If 𝑉1 and 𝑇1 are initial volume and absolute temperature, 𝑉2 and 𝑇2 are final volume and absolute
temperature. Then,
𝑉1 𝑉2
=
𝑇1 𝑇2
Thus we can write,
𝑉1 𝑉2 𝑉3 𝑉4
= = = =. . . . . . . = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝑇1 𝑇2 𝑇3 𝑇4
Gay – Lussac’s law
Gay – Lussac’s law states that at constant volume for a given mass of a gas
pressure is directly proportional to absolute temperature.

Let ‘𝑃’ be the pressure of a gas and ‘𝑇’ is absolute temperature, at constant volume.
Then according to statement, at constant volume,

Pressure ∝ Absolute Temperature

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 Basic Science – Physics (R18SC1704)

P∝𝑇
P
= 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
T
Graph of pressure against absolute temperature at constant volume is shown in figure above.
If 𝑃1 and 𝑇1are initial pressure and absolute temperature, 𝑃2 and 𝑇2 are final pressure and absolute
temperature, then,
𝑃1 𝑃2
=
𝑇1 𝑇2
Thus we can write,
𝑃1 𝑃2 𝑃3 𝑃4
= = = =. . . . . . . = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝑇1 𝑇2 𝑇3 𝑇4
General Gas equation
We have seen three gas laws giving relation between two variables when the third variable remains
constant. However in practice all the three variables i.e. pressure, volume and temperature changes
simultaneously. Hence we can combine Boyle’s law and Charles’s law together to get General Gas equation.
Let initial pressure, volume and temperature of given mass of gas are P1, V1 and T1 respectively. Keeping
its temperature constant its pressure is changed from P 1 to P2 and correspondingly its volume changes from V1
to say V. Then according Boyle’s law,
𝑃1 𝑉1 = 𝑃2𝑉
𝑃1 𝑉1
V=
𝑃2

Then the gas is heated keeping its pressure constant its volume is changed from V to V 2 and
correspondingly its temperature changes from T 1 to say T2. Then according Charle’s law,

V 𝑉2
=
𝑇1 𝑇2

𝑇1 𝑉2
V=
𝑇2
Equating RHS of both the above equation for ‘V’ we can write,

𝑃1 𝑉1 𝑇1 𝑉2
=
𝑃2 𝑇2

Rearranging above equation, we can write,

𝑃1 𝑉1 𝑃2 𝑉2
=
𝑇1 𝑇2
Where 𝑃1, 𝑉1 and 𝑇1 are initial pressure, volume and temperature. 𝑃2, 𝑉2 and 𝑇2 are final pressure, volume
and temperature respectively.

Thus we can write,

𝑃1 𝑉1 𝑃2 𝑉2 𝑃3 𝑉3 𝑃4 𝑉4
= = = = . . . . . . . . . . . . . . = constant
𝑇1 𝑇2 𝑇3 𝑇4
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 Basic Science – Physics (R18SC1704)

Therefore in general we can write,

P𝑉
= constant
𝑇
P𝑉
=R
𝑇

Where, R is proportionality constant known as universal gas constant.

𝑃𝑉 =RT

Thus we can write,

𝑃1 𝑉1 𝑃2 𝑉2 𝑃3 𝑉3 𝑃4 𝑉4
= = = = ..............= R
𝑇1 𝑇2 𝑇3 𝑇4

This equation is known as general gas equation.

A gas which obeys all three gas laws is called perfect gas. Gas like hydrogen, helium, oxygen obeys all
three gas laws i.e. perfect gases.\

Atmospheric Pressure
Atmospheric pressure is defined as the force per unit area exerted against Earth surface by the weight of
the air above that surface.

One atmosphere (1 atm.)

Average pressure of the atmosphere at sea level is called one atmosphere (1 atm.). It is equal to 76 cm of
Hg.

Standard or Normal Temperature and Pressure (STP or NTP)

STP or NTP denotes temperature of 0 ºC or 273 K and a pressure of one atmosphere (1 atm.) or 76 cm
of Hg.

Specific Heat
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of unit mass of substance through 1ºC is called
specific heat of that substance.

Unit of specific Heat i) In CGS – cal / (g ºC)

ii) In MKS – kcal / (kg ºC)
iii) In SI – J/ (kg K)

Specific Heats of Gases

In case of gases supplied heat is used in two ways. Part of the heat is used to increase the temperature
and remaining heat is used to expand the gas. Therefore there are two specific heats of gases as follows.

Specific Heat at constant volume (Cv)

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of unit mass of gas through 1 ºC keeping its volume
constant is called specific heat of gas at constant volume.

Specific Heat at constant pressure (Cp)

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of unit mass of gas through 1 ºC keeping its pressure
constant is called specific heat of gas at constant pressure.

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 Basic Science – Physics (R18SC1704)

The specific heat of gas at constant pressure is always greater than specific heat of gas at constant volume
because some additional amount of heat is required to expand gas while heating at constant pressure as compared
to heating at constant volume.

Ratio of specific heats of gases (adiabatic constant)

The ratio of specific heats of gases at constant pressure and specific heat of gas at constant volume is
called adiabatic constant.

It is denoted by gamma (γ) and given by,

𝐶𝑝
𝛄=
𝐶v
As Cp is always greater than Cv, γ is greater than 1.

Approximate values of ‘γ’ for different type of gases are given below.

i) For monoatomic gas like inert or noble gas like helium γ = 1.66

ii) For diatomic gas like O2, N2, H2 or air γ = 1.41

iii) For triatomic gas like CO2, SO2 or water vapor (H2O) γ = 1.31

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