012-09263 Physics Experiment Manual 45 Boyle’s Law (P & V)

Boyle’s Law: Pressure and Volume of a Gas at Constant Temperature

(Pressure Sensor)

Thermodynamics: Gas Laws, Boyle’s Law DataStudio file: 45 Boyle’s Law.ds

Equipment List

Qty Items Part No.

1 PASCO Interface (for one sensor)
1 Pressure Sensor CI-6532
1 Coupling, quick-release w/ sensor
1 Syringe w/ sensor
1 Tubing w/ sensor
1 mL Glycerin

Introduction
The purpose of this activity is to explore the relationship between the pressure in a container of
air as its volume is changed while the temperature remains constant. Use a Pressure Sensor to
measure the change in the pressure of air in a syringe as you change the volume of air in the
syringe. Use DataStudio to record and display the data. Use the graph of pressure and volume to
determine the relationship.
Background
Boyle’s Law states that the pressure of a gas in a container is
related to the volume of the gas. In other words, as the volume
changes, the pressure changes. For a given amount of a gas at a
fixed temperature the pressure of the gas is inversely proportional
to the volume. One way to verify this is to graph the inverse of gas
volume versus gas pressure.

SAFETY REMINDER
● Follow directions for using the equipment.

Setup
1. Setup the PASCO Interface and computer and start DataStudio.
2. Connect the Pressure Sensor to the interface.
3. Open the file titled 45 Boyle’s Law.ds.
● Data recording is set for one measurement per second. Use the keyboard to enter the
volume of the air inside the syringe (in milliliters).
4. Put a drop of glycerin on the barb end of a quick release coupling. Put the end of the
coupling into one end of a short piece (about 2.5 cm) of plastic tubing that comes with the
Pressure Sensor.
5. Put a drop of glycerin on the end of the syringe. Connect the end of the syringe to the other
end of the small piece of plastic tubing.
6. Align the quick- release coupling on
one end of the plastic tubing with the

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pressure port of the Pressure Sensor. Push the coupling onto the port, and then turn the
coupling clockwise until it clicks (about one-eighth turn).
7. Check that the syringe and Pressure Sensor have a secure seal by adjusting the volume
between 20 mL and 10 mL. It should get harder to push as the volume decreases.
8. Adjust the volume of air in the syringe to 20.0 mL. (Note: To set the initial position of the
piston in the syringe, disconnect the quick-release connector from the sensor, move the
piston to the first position (20 mL), and then re-connect the quick-release connector to the
sensor.)
Procedure
● In
DataStudio,
the Table
display shows
values for the
gas volume in
the syringe
(for example,
20, 18, 16 and
so on).
1. Click ‘Start’ to begin
recording data.

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● The ‘Start’ button changes to ‘Keep’ ( ) and the Table display shows the value of
pressure next to the first volume (20 mL).
9. Click ‘Keep’ to record the pressure.
● The Table display changes to show the next value of volume
(18 mL).
10. Move the piston to the 18 mL mark and click ‘Keep’ to record
the pressure.
11. Continue to move the piston to each new position and then
click ‘Keep’ to record the corresponding pressure.
12. After you record the pressure for the last volume, click ‘Stop’
to end data recording.
13. If time permits, repeat the procedure.
Analyze
1. Set up the Graph display so you can examine the plot of Volume versus Pressure and also
the plot of Inverse Volume versus Pressure.
14. Set up the Table display so you can examine the Pressure, Volume and Inverse Volume.
Use your observations to answer the questions in the Lab Report.
Lab Report - Boyle’s Law – Pressure and Volume of a Gas at Constant
Temperature
Data
Sketch your graph of pressure and volume:

Questions
1. From looking at your data, do the pressure and volume seem to be directly or inversely
proportional? Does this agree with Boyle’s Law?

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15. What happened to the pressure when the volume went from 20 mL to 10 mL?

16. What are possible sources of error or limitations in this experiment? For each one, try to
decide what effect it might have on the experimental results.

Teacher Notes
Time Estimates Preparation: 15 min Activity: 15 min

Objectives
Students will be able to…
1. use a Pressure Sensor to measure the change in pressure and of the air inside a syringe as the
piston in the syringe causes the volume of the air to change
2. use the software to enter values of volume and record the corresponding pressures
3. interpret the data to determine the relationship of pressure and volume for a gas at a relatively
constant temperature
Notes
This activity is adapted from materials provided by Terri Case.
This lab takes very little time but gives excellent results. Be sure that the syringe is originally set
to a volume of 20.0 mL when it is connected to the Pressure Sensor. Also warn the students not
to compress the air to a volume of less than 8 or 10 mL. The pressure can become too great,
causing errors due to the added stress on the tubing. Excessive pressure may cause the syringe to
detach from the plastic tubing.
The primary source of error is the volume of air unaccounted for in the tubing and pressure
chamber of the sensor. By creating a new quantity called total volume, a reasonable 0.5 mL can
be added to the volume of air in the syringe as a correction factor. Students could adjust this
value to get the best results and then compare that with the volume of air they calculate to be
inside the tubing connecting the sensor to the syringe. Refer to the On-Line Help file for
DataStudio for instructions on setting up a calculated quantity.
Data
Sketch your graph of pressure and volume: (See sample data)
Questions
1. From looking at your data, do the pressure and volume seem to be directly or inversely
proportional? Does this agree with Boyle’s Law?
Pressure and volume are inversely proportional. This agrees with Boyle’s description of the
relationship between pressure and volume for a gas at constant temperature.
17. What happened to the pressure when the volume went from 20 mL to 10 mL?

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For the sample data shown, the pressure nearly doubled. The difference between the expected
and experimental pressure at 10 mL is an acceptable five percent.
18. What are possible sources of error or limitations in this experiment? For each one, try to
decide what effect it might have on the experimental results.
Answers will vary. There are several possibilities. As the pressure increases for small volumes
there is a potential for some stretching of the tubing or syringe. The temperature could fluctuate
depending upon how a student handles the syringe during the readings for a run. The tubing has
a small volume, which has not been taken into account.
Sample Data

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