IGCSE Science (Physics)

Unit P4

Particles in Motion
Boyle’s Law
 Lesson Objectives
• State the relationship between the pressure
and volume of a fixed mass of gas, at
constant temperature
• P∝1/V or P1V1 = P2 V2
• Carry out calculations using this relationship
 Pressure and Volume

Low P, High P,
large V
P x V is constant small V
 Boyle’s Law
• For a fixed mass of gas at a constant
temperature, the volume of the gas is
inversely proportional to the pressure
• If the pressure is doubled, the volume is
halved; if the pressure is tripled, the
volume is reduced to one-third, etc.
• This can be mathematically written in
these three ways:
• P ∝ 1 / V P x V = constant P1V1 = P2 V2
• This relationship is called Boyle’s law
Boyle’s Law Volume
scale
Experiment
Gas
(air)
• This is the
demonstration
you will see to Pressure
Gauge
investigate
Boyle’s Law
 P – V Graph
• This is the
typical curve
for two
variables
which are
inversely
proportional
to each
P∝1/V
other
A moving version!

P∝1/V

(cm3)

(Pa)

Note : the
temperature
is constant!
 A More Tricky graph….
P (Pa) • If you plot a
graph of P
against 1 / V,
you will get a
straight line
through the
origin. This is
P∝1/V
the proof that
P and V are
inversely
proportional
1/V
(1 / cm3)
 Some Results
Pressure (kPa) Volume (cm3) 1/V

50 1000

100 500

150 330

200 250

250 200

Use these results to get P – V and P - 1/V

graphs like the ones in the previous slides
 Boyle’s Law

Robert
The volume of Boyle
a gas is
inversely
proportional to
its pressure if
temperature is
constant
 Try Some Questions
1. A bubble of air released by a SCUBA diver
has a volume of 6cm3 when released under
water where the pressure is 3 atmospheres
(300 kPa). What is the volume of the bubble
when it reaches the surface where the
pressure is 1 atmosphere (100 kPa)?
2. The fuel mixture in the cylinder of a car
engine has a volume of 400cm3 at a
pressure of 100kPa. It is then compressed
until its volume is reduced to 50cm3. What
is the new pressure?
IGCSE Science (Physics)

Unit P4

Particles in Motion
The Pressure Law
 Lesson Objectives
• State the relationship between the pressure
and temperature of a fixed mass of gas, at
constant volume (s)
• P∝T or P1 / T1 = P2 / T2 (s)
• Carry out calculations using this relationship
(s)
• Explain how this relationship leads to the
kelvin temperature scale (s)
• Convert between temperatures in kelvin and
 Pressure Law • The
pressure of
a gas
increases
Constant when the
volume
temperature
increases, if
the volume
stays
constant
Low particle High particle
energy energy
 Pressure law
• This is the
apparatus
used to
investigate
the
relationship
between
temperature
and pressure
of a gas at
constant
Pressure Law apparatus
volume
 Pressure-Temperature Graph
• If temperature is in °C the graph is linear,
but not through the origin
At -273°C the
pressure P (kPa)
(theoretically)
would be zero. This
means that the
particles have zero
kinetic energy.

- 273°C T (°C)
 Kelvin Temperature Scale
• The pressure-temperature graph suggests that
a true zero of temperature is at -273°C
• This is known as absolute zero
• Lord Kelvin used this to invent a new scale of
temperature called the kelvin scale
• Absolute zero is zero kelvin (0K) which is the
same as -273°C
• To change temperatures from °C to K you add
273
• To change temperatures from K to °C you
subtract 273
Kelvin and Celsius
 Try These
Change these to kelvin Change these to °C
1. 0°C 1. 0K
2. 100°C 2. 100K
3. 27°C 3. 273K
4. -20°C 4. 1000K
Answers : Answers :
5. 273K 5. -273°C
6. 373K 6. -173°C
7. 300K 7. 0°C
8. 253K 8. 727°C
 Another P – T Graph
• If the
P (Pa) temperature is
measured in
kelvin, the
graph passes
through the
origin
• In other words,
pressure is
P∝T directly
proportional to
temperature (in
kelvin)
T (K)
The moving version!

(Pa)

(K)

P∝T
 The Pressure Law
• For a fixed mass of gas at a constant
volume, the pressure of the gas is directly
proportional to the temperature (in kelvin)
• If the temperature is doubled, the pressure
is doubled; if the temperature is tripled, the
pressure is tripled, etc.
• This can be mathematically written in these
three ways:
• P ∝ T P ÷ T = constant P1 ÷ V1 = P2 ÷ V2
 Volume and Temperature
• We also find
that volume
and
temperature
are directly
proportional,
but again
only if
temperature
is in kelvin

-273°C again! This is obviously a special temperature

Volume and Temperature
• If the
temperature
increases, the
particles move
faster, collide
harder and more
often with the
piston, pushing
it further up and
increasing the
volume.
The moving version!

(K)

(cm3)

V∝T
 Volume and Temperature

• Here is the same balloon,

• Here is a fully inflated containing the same amount
balloon at room of air, after very cold liquid
temperature nitrogen has been poured
over it
 Try These
1. Some gas in a fixed volume container
is at a temperature of 27°C and a
pressure of 100kPa. If the gas is
heated to a temperature of 177°C,
what will its pressure be? (Don’t
forget : kelvin!)
2. Hot air in a strong can is at a
temperature of 77°C and a pressure of
120kPa. The can is then left in a fridge
so that the pressure of the air
reduces to 96kPa. What is the
temperature of the fridge, in K and
°C?