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GAS LAWS
Kinetic Theory of matter
• The kinetic theory of gases is
founded on the following six
principles:
1. Gases are composed of
minute discrete particles
(usually molecules).
2. The particles are in
continuous random motion
moving in straight lines
between very frequent
collisions with each other
and the sides of the
container.
3. The collision of the container
walls by the particles causes
pressure (i.e. force of
impacts/unit area). The
greater the force of collision
and the more frequent the
collisions the greater the gas
pressure exerted on the
container surface.
4. The collisions are perfectly
elastic i.e. no energy loss on
collision due to friction. Both
momentum and KE are
conserved.
5. At relatively low pressures
the average distance
between particles is large
compared to the diameter of
the particles and therefore
the inter–molecular forces
between the particles is
negligible. No influence of
cohesive forces on the
motion.
6. The average kinetic energy
of the particles is directly
proportional to their
absolute temperature on the
Kelvin scale (K)
i.e. KE(J) T(K)
▪ This means if you heat
up a gas the average
kinetic energy of the
particles increases,
therefore the average
speed increases too.
a) Brownian motion.
This refers to the continuous random
motion exhibited by particles of liquid
and gases(fluids). This is called
Brownian motion. They do this because
they are bombarded by the other
moving particles in the fluid. Larger
particles can be moved by light, fast-
moving molecules.
Brownian motion is named after
the botanist Robert Brown, who first
observed this in 1827. He used a
microscope to look at pollen grains
moving randomly in water. At this
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point, he could not explain why this
occurred.
But in 1905, physicist Albert
Einstein explained that the pollen
grains were being moved by individual
water molecules. This confirmed that
atoms and molecules did exist, and
provided evidence for particle theory.
A similar observation was made when
a smoke cell illuminated with light was
observed through a microscope. Bright
specks were seen to jerk around in a
random manner.
These are smoke molecules. Each
moves in a straight line at a constant
speed until it collides with another or
with the invisible air molecules where it
changes in direction and/or speed.
Adjust the microscope slightly until you
can see smoke particles. The particles
of scatter (reflect) the light shining on
them and as points of light in random
motion. The smoke particles are much
larger than the water (or air) molecules,
which are far too small to see even with
a microscope.
The irregular movement of the particles
is explained as being due to an uneven
bombardment of the particles by the
invisible molecules of water (or air). A
possible irregular path of a smoke or
graphite particle is shown.
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b) Absolute zero.
This is the temperature equal to 0K or -
2730C.
The average kinetic energy of a gas is
directly proportional to its absolute
(Kelvin) temperature. Therefore when a
gas is cooled, the average speed of its
molecules decreases. There comes a
point when the temperature cannot be
decreased further, where the average
kinetic energy is zero. This is called
absolute zero. At this point the gas has
no kinetic or thermal energy and has
the least energy. Pressure of the gas at
this temperature is zero.
Factors Affecting Pressure:
1.Amount of Gas: Increasing the
number of particles increases collisions,
which increases pressure. Removing
particles reduces pressure.
2. Volume: Increasing the volume will
decrease the pressure of a gas since
collisions are less likely. Decreasing the
volume has the opposite effect.
3.Temperature: Increasing the
temperature increases the speed of the
molecules, which leads to more
collisions and greater pressure.
Decreasing the temperature has the
opposite effect.
c) The Gas Laws.
1. Boyle’s law.
All the particles (atoms and molecules)
of a substance are continually moving
and so possess kinetic energy.
In gases the movement of the particles
is highly energetic and this is the reason
why gases form, the particles have
enough energy to overcome the
attractive forces holding the particles
together.
In gases the particles are moving very
quickly and freely in a random manner
constantly bumping into each other and
their surroundings.
It is these collisions between the
particles of the gas and the walls of the
container it is confined to that creates
gas pressure. The gas pressure is the
overall force of all these collisions
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divided by the area of the walls of the

container it is confined in.

If you compress air in a cylinder, its

pressure increases. If you let go of the
air springs go back to its original The following apparatus can be used to
position. verify the law.
Air is trapped by oil in a
closed tube. A pressure
gauge is connected to

Boyle’s law states that;

For a fixed mass of a gas pressure is measure the pressure
inversely proportional to volume of the trapped air. A pump
provided temperature is kept changes the pressure of the
constant. air and pressure and volume
P α 1/V readings are made. Several
PV = k readings are made and two
P1V1 = P2V2 graphs are drawn. One for
pressure against volume
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and the other pressure

against 1/ volume.
The results is as shown
In the graphs below.

Examples.
1. In a sealed cylinder above, the
volume of gas at the start is 50
cm3 with a pressure of 1.2 x
105 Pascals. The piston is pushed
slowly into the syringe until the
pressure on the gauge reads 2.0 x
105 Pascals. What is the volume of
gas?
Molecular explanation. Solution:
If a gas is kept at the same
We know
temperature, its average speed hence
average kinetic energy remains p x V = constant
constant. If the same number of
particles is squeezed into a smaller therefore,
volume, they will hit the walls of the
p1 x V1 = p2 x V2
container more often. Each particle p1= 1.2 x 105 Pascals
exerts a tiny force on the wall which it V1 = 50 cm3
collides. More collisions per second p2 = 2.0 x 105 Pascals
means a greater average force on the V2 =?
wall and therefore a greater pressure.
p1 x V1 = p2 x V2
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p1x V1
V2 =
p2
2. A sealed syringe
contains of air at .
The plunger is pushed until the volume
of trapped air is . If there is
no change in temperature what is the
new pressure of the gas?
2. Pressure law.
It states that:
The pressure of a fixed mass of a
gas is directly proportional to the
absolute temperature provided
Graph of pressure against temperature
volume is kept constant.
in both Kelvin and degree Celsius are
P α T(K)
drawn and the results are as follows.
P = kT
P1/T1 = P2/T2
The kit shown below can be used to
verify the law.
Air trapped in the flask is heated and its
temperature and pressure is noted
each time they are changed.
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Molecular explanation.
When gas is heated, its molecules
continue to move randomly but at a
higher average speed. The collisions
with the walls of the container are
harder and happen more often. This
results in the average pressure exerted
by the particles increasing.
If a gas is cooled its average kinetic
energy decreases, the molecules move
more slowly. At absolute zero
temperature the particles have no
thermal or movement energy so they
cannot exert pressure.
3.Charles's Law
Heating a container filled with a mass of
gas.
To investigate the relationship between
volume and temperature, at constant
pressure, an experiment can be carried
out where a fixed mass of gas is in a
container, which is free to expand,
without any gas escaping. This means
that the gas is always at atmospheric
pressure, which is assumed constant
during the experiment. When the gas is
heated, its volume increases. The
particles gain kinetic energy and move
faster. They collide more often with
greater force on the container walls.
Since the container can expand, the gas
volume increases until the pressure of
the gas is back to the constant
atmospheric pressure.
Using results from this experiment
leads to the following relationship
between pressure and kelvin
temperature:
(Sometimes known as Charles's
Law)
where:
• is the starting volume (measured in
any relevant unit of volume, eg )
• is the starting temperature (must
be in Kelvin)
• is the finishing pressure (same
units as )
• is the finishing temperature (must
be in Kelvin)
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This equation is true as long as the

pressure and mass of the gas are
constant.

Question

A balloon is blown up at night

when the temperature is to a
volume . Next afternoon,
the temperature is .

If there is no change in air

pressure, what is the new volume
of the gas?