Boyle's Law
Pressure vs. Volume in a Gas System
Explore the inverse relationship between pressure and volume of a gas at constant temperature. Observe how changing the volume affects the pressure in this gas syringe simulation!
Boyle's Law
P₁V₁ = P₂V₂
Pressure: 1.0 atm |
Volume: 50 mL
Observation:
When you compress the gas (decrease volume), the pressure increases proportionally. When you expand the gas (increase volume), the pressure decreases.
The Science Behind Boyle's Law
Key Concepts:
Boyle's Law describes the inverse relationship between pressure and volume of a gas at constant temperature:
- Pressure (P): Force exerted by gas particles per unit area
- Volume (V): Space occupied by the gas
- Constant Temperature: The kinetic energy of particles remains unchanged
Mathematical Relationship:
For a fixed amount of gas at constant temperature:
P₁V₁ = P₂V₂
This means pressure and volume are inversely proportional - as one increases, the other decreases proportionally.
