In a sealed container with fixed volume and amount of gas, how is pressure related to temperature?

Study for the Cambridge Science – States of Matter Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each question. Ready yourself for your exam!

Multiple Choice

In a sealed container with fixed volume and amount of gas, how is pressure related to temperature?

Explanation:
When the volume and the amount of gas are fixed, pressure increases directly with temperature. This happens because heating the gas makes the molecules move faster, leading to more energetic and frequent collisions with the container walls, which pushes outward harder and raises pressure. The ideal gas law expresses this as P = nRT / V, so with n and V constant, pressure is proportional to temperature. Remember to use Kelvin for temperature—doubling the Kelvin value doubles the pressure in this setup. In real gases, this proportionality is a good approximation at moderate conditions, with small deviations at very high pressures or very low temperatures.

When the volume and the amount of gas are fixed, pressure increases directly with temperature. This happens because heating the gas makes the molecules move faster, leading to more energetic and frequent collisions with the container walls, which pushes outward harder and raises pressure. The ideal gas law expresses this as P = nRT / V, so with n and V constant, pressure is proportional to temperature. Remember to use Kelvin for temperature—doubling the Kelvin value doubles the pressure in this setup. In real gases, this proportionality is a good approximation at moderate conditions, with small deviations at very high pressures or very low temperatures.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy