THERMAL PHYSICS

17 THE GAS LAWS

Physics 10. Cambridge IGCSE
I NEED VOLUNTEERS
Absolute zero
Absolute zero

Graph shows
the linear
relationship of
volume and
temperature
What can we learn from this graph?

- Lowest
temperature?

−273℃
- Absolute
temperature
scale?
Kelvin scale
What happens during absolute zero?
What happens during absolute zero?
What happens during absolute zero?
Temperature scales

Celsius Fahrenheit Kelvin

℃ ℉ 𝐾
9
𝐹 = 𝐶 + 32
5
5
𝐶 = 𝐹 − 32
9
𝑇 = 273 + 𝜃
The gas laws
The gas laws

Charles’ law
Pressure law
Boyle’s law
Combined gas law
Charles’ law

 the volume of a fixed mass of gas is directly

proportional to its absolute temperature if
the pressure is kept constant

𝑉∝𝑇
Charles’ law

𝑉1 𝑉2
=
𝑇1 𝑇2
*** make sure the temperature is
expressed in Kelvin
Charles’ law [worked example]

Calculate the new volume, if in a container,

there is a mass of gas that occupies a volume
of 1.3 liters, at a temperature of 280K.
Calculate the volume when reaching a
temperature of 303K.
Pressure law

 the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is directly

proportional to its absolute temperature if
the volume is kept constant

𝑃∝𝑇
Pressure law aka Gay-Lussac's law
Pressure law

𝑃1 𝑃2
=
𝑇1 𝑇2
*** make sure the temperature is
expressed in Kelvin
Pressure law [worked example]

A 20-liter cylinder contains 6 atm of gas at

27 ℃. What would be the pressure of the gas if
it was heated to 77 ℃?
Boyle’s law

 the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is inversely

proportional to its volume if its temperature is kept
constant

1
𝑃∝
𝑉
Boyle’s law

𝑃1 𝑉1 = 𝑃2 𝑉2
Boyle’s law
Boyle’s law [worked example]

A cylinder contains 50 𝑐𝑚 of air at a pressure

3

of 120 kPa. What will be its volume if the

pressure on it is increased to 400 kPa?
Combined gas law

𝑝1 𝑣1 𝑝2 𝑣2
=
𝑇1 𝑇2
Combined Gas Laws [worked example]

A bicycle pump contains 50 𝑐𝑚3 of air at 17℃

and at 1.0 atmospheric pressure. Find the
pressure when the air is compressed to
10 𝑐𝑚 and its temperature rises to 27℃
3
HOMEWORK
 Create an illustration
of an experiment
that can best show
the evidence of the
gas law assigned to
you and explain it in
class next meeting.

Kindly submit your

assignment last
meeting.
EXPERIMENT
Some ground rules before we start.

 Follow directions
 Absolutely no horseplay
 Report all accidents to the teacher immediately
 Dress appropriately (Lab gowns, tie hair for girls)
 Use equipment with care for the purpose for which it is intended
 Do not perform unauthorized experiments
 Be careful when working with apparatus that may be hot.
Things you will need:

Tongs Hard boiled egg

Balloons Paper
Boiling water Matches/ lighter
Ice bath Plastic bottle
Erlenmeyer flask (or a Notebooks
bottle)
Exercise/ Experiment 1

Write all your reflections in your physics notebooks.

All answers should be sensible and reflective.
LISTEN TO THE INSTRUCTIONS
1 Dip the balloon

1. Describe how the inflated balloon looked like before doing

anything to it.

2. Describe what happened to the balloon after dipping it in hot

water for some time
3. Describe what happened to the balloon after dipping it in cold
water for some time
4. What quantity did you change when you dipped it in either hot or
cold water?
1 Charles’ Law

 The first experiment is a demonstration of Charles’ Law. How does

the experiment verify the Charles’ law equation that we studied last
meeting? (not less than 20 words)
2 Egg in a bottle

1. What do you think are the initial forces that are acting upon the
egg (without the burning piece of paper)?
2. How has the burning sheet of paper affected the air molecules
inside the flask?
3. What do you think happened to the air molecules when the fire
consumed all the oxygen?
2 Combined Law

Using the concept of pressure, volume, temperature, and the kinetic

theory of molecules, explain how the egg went in the flask/ bottle.
How do you think can you get it out? (not less than 20 words)
With your group…

 Choose between Boyle’s Law and Gay-Lussac’s (Pressure) Law

 Think of an experiment that can experimentally show Boyle’s and
Gay-Lussac’s Law
 Be creative in designing your experiments.
 You may draw/ write the steps of your experiments in bullet points.