Name: Marita Hon Date:

Student Exploration: Boyle’s Law and Charles’s Law

Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.

Vocabulary: absolute zero, Boyle’s law, Charles’s law, Gay-Lussac’s law, Kelvin scale, pressure

Prior Knowledge Question (Do this BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

A small helium tank measures about two feet (60 cm) high. Yet it can fill over 50 balloons! How can such a
small tank contain enough helium to fill so many balloons?

It has a lot of pressure in it, and the pressure fills up the balloon.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Gizmo Warm-up
The Boyle’s Law and Charles’s Law Gizmo shows a container of gas. Inside, small purple spheres represent
gas molecules.

1.​ Observe the particles. Are they all moving at the same speed?
​
No, some particles are faster than others

2. How do the particles interact with the walls and lid of the container? ​ ​ ​ ​

The particles bounce off the walls and lid of the container and bump with
other particles
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
These interactions contribute to the pressure on the walls of the container. Pressure is defined as force per
unit area. The SI units of pressure are newtons per square meter (N/m2), or pascals (Pa).

2.​ Slowly drag the temperature (T) slider back and forth. (Note: In this Gizmo, the Kelvin scale is used to
measure temperature. On the Kelvin scale, 0 degrees is absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature.
Absolute zero is equal to -273.15 °C or -459.67 °F)

A.​ How does the change in temperature affect the speed of the molecules? ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
If the temperature increases, the speed of the molecules increases.

B.​ How does the change in temperature affect the volume of the container? ​ ​

If the temperature increases, the volume of the container increases.

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 Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
●​ Set the temperature (T) to 300 K.
Boyle’s law ●​ Check that the mass (m) is set to 0 kg.

Question: How does pressure affect the volume of a gas?

1.​ Form hypothesis: In this experiment, you will pile weights on the lid of the container of gas. What do you
think will happen as more weight is added to the lid?

If a pile of weights is added on the lid of the container, the lid will go down and the molecule will be
compressed
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
2.​ Notice: Look at the DESCRIPTION pane. What is the mass of the lid? ​ 10 kg​ ​

How much pressure does the lid exert on the gas?

​ 98.1 N/m2​

3.​ Collect data: With the temperature held constant at 300 K, use the Select mass slider to place weights on
the lid. Record the pressure and volume of the gas for each added mass.

Added mass Total mass

Pressure* Volume
on the lid (lid + added mass)
0 kg 10 kg 98.1 N/m2 2.54 m3
10 kg 20 kg 196.2 N/m2 1.27 m3
20 kg 30 kg 294.3 N/m2 0.85 m3
30 kg 40 kg 392.4 N/m2 0.64 m3

*This model does not include atmospheric pressure, which is 101,325 N/m2.

4.​ Analyze: As the pressure increases at constant temperature, what happens to the volume of the gas? ​
​ ​
As the pressure increases, the volume decreases
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
This relationship is called Boyle’s law.

5.​ Calculate: Compare the pressure and volume values in your data table.

A.​ How did doubling the pressure change the gas volume? ​ ​
volume was divided by 2​ ​

B.​ How did tripling the pressure change the gas volume? ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

volume was divided by 3

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 C.​ How did quadrupling the pressure change the gas volume? ​ ​ ​ ​
​
volume was divided by 4

6.​ Predict: If the added mass on the lid was 50 kg, a total mass of 60 kg would exert pressure on the gas
inside the container. What will be the volume of the gas? ​

0.38 m3
​
7.​ Test: Test your prediction using the Gizmo. What is the volume of the gas? 0. 39 m3

Was your prediction correct? no

8.​ Create a graph: On the GRAPH tab, select V vs. P. Set m to 0 kg, and click Record to plot a point on the
graph. Plot a point for each possible mass to create a graph showing the relationship between pressure
and volume.

📷
When your graph is completed, click the camera ( ) icon to take a snapshot. Right-click the image, and
click Copy Image. Paste the image into the space below, and label the graph “Volume vs. Pressure.”

Volume Vs Pressure

A.​ What is the shape of the graph? ​ an L shape going from top to bottom making an arc
​

B.​ How does this graph illustrate You can see that as mass is added, the volume decreases
Boyle’s law? ​ but the pressure increases.

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 C.​ How do you think the graph might change if the temperature was held constant at a higher
temperature, say 400 K? ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

There would be bigger gaps from point to point, the volume will decrease faster and pressure will
increase faster.

9.​ Apply: Think about a small helium tank that can fill 50 balloons. What must be true about the helium in the
tank compared to the helium in the balloons?
​ ​
The helium in the tank is compressed and has more pressure, since helium is a gas. The helium tank
has a lot of pressure but small volume. Therefore, when put helium in the balloon, the pressure is
relieved and because of Boyle’s law(when pressure decreases, volume decreases), making the
volume in the balloon increases(blow up), so helium in the tank has little volume but a lot of pressure
while helium in balloons has a lot more volume but little pressure.
​

Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:

●​ On the SIMULATION pane, set T to 100 K and m
Charles’s law to 0 kg.

Question: How does temperature affect the volume of a gas?

1.​ Form hypothesis: How do you think the volume of a gas will change as the temperature rises and falls? ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​
If the temperature rises, I predict so will the volume, and if the temperature falls, so will the volume.

2.​ Collect data: Without changing the mass on the lid, record the pressure and volume of the gas at each of
the given temperatures.

Temperature Pressure* Volume

100 K 98.10 N/m2 0.85 m3
200 K 98.10 N/m2 1.70 m3
300 K 98.10 N/m2 2.54 m3
400 K 98.10 N/m2 3.39 m3
500 K 98.10 N/m2 4.24 m3

*This model does not include atmospheric pressure, which is 101,325 N/m2.

3.​ Analyze: As the temperature increases at constant pressure, what happens to the volume of the gas? ​
​ ​ ​

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 The volume also increases at constant pressure.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
This relationship is called Charles’s law.

4.​ Explain: Based on the motions of the gas molecules, why do you think the volume changed as it did when
the temperature was increased? ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

When the temperature increases, the gas molecules gain kinetic energy and move faster. As they
move faster, they collide with the walls of the container more frequently and with more force. This
increased motion causes the gas to expand, which results in an increase in volume. This is because
gases naturally spread out to fill the space available to them.

5.​ Think about it: Why do you think the pressure was the same in each test? ​ ​ ​

Since the weight of the lid was the same in each test, the pressure on the gas is also the same
​ ​

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
6.​ Calculate: Compare the pressure and volume values in your data table.
​
A.​ How did doubling the temperature affect the gas volume? Volume doubled

B.​ How did tripling the temperature affect the gas volume? Volume tripled

C.​ How did quadrupling the temperature affect the gas volume? Volume quadrupled

7.​ Predict: Suppose the temperature was 50 K. What will be the volume of the gas? 0.42 m3

8.​ Test: Test your prediction using the Gizmo. What is the volume of the gas? ​ 0.42 m3

Was your prediction correct? ​ Yes

9.​ Create a graph: On the GRAPH tab, select V vs. T. Set T to 50 K, and click Record to plot a point on the
graph. Plot a point every 50 degrees to create a graph showing the relationship between temperature and
volume.

When your graph is completed, click the camera icon to take a snapshot. Paste the image into the space
below, and label the graph “Volume vs. Temperature.”

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 📷 Volume vs Temperature

​ ​ ​ ​ ​
D.​ What is the shape of the graph? ​ A straight diagonal line from down to up
​

E.​ How does this graph illustrate The graph shows that as the pressure is constant, if the
Charles’s law? ​ temperature increases, so does the volume linearly

10.​Apply: Based on what you learned, what would happen to a balloon placed in the freezer?

It would shrink because as the temperature cools down, so will the volume.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
What would happen to a balloon placed in a warm oven? (Assume it doesn’t pop.) ​ ​

It would expand because as the temperature increases, so will the volume, causing the balloon to
expand.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
11.​Think and discuss: Consider temperature, pressure, and volume. How does the mathematical relationship
in Boyle’s law compare to that in Charles’s law?

Boyle’s law is an inverse relationship, meaning as pressure increases, volume decreases as long as
the temperature is constant, but Charle’s law is a direct relationship in which if the temperature
increases, so will the volume as long as the pressure is constant.
​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity C:
●​ On the SIMULATION pane, set T to 300 K and m
Gay-Lussac’s Law to 15 kg.
●​ Turn on the Constant volume checkbox.

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Question: How does temperature affect the pressure of a gas when volume is constant?

1.​ Form hypothesis: If the volume of a gas is held constant, how do you think the pressure will change as
temperature increases? ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The pressure will also increases

2.​ Collect data: Select the TABLE tab. Record the pressure when T = 100 K, 200 K, and so forth up to 500 K.
(Note: The volume will remain constant at 1.02 m3.)

Pressure
Temperature Pressure
Temperature
100 K 196.20 N/m2 1.962 Pa/k
200 K 392.4 N/m2 1.962 Pa/k
300 K 588.60 N/m2 1.962 Pa/k
400 K 784.8 N/m2 1.962 Pa/k
500 K 981.00 N/m2 1.962 Pa/k

3.​ Analyze: Divide the pressure by the temperature to fill in the last column of the table. Since 1 N/m2 is equal
to 1 pascal (Pa), write the units of the ratio as Pa/K.

A.​ When the volume is held constant, how does the pressure change as temperature increases? ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
As the temperature increases, the pressure also increases

B.​ What do you notice about the ratio of pressure to temperature, when volume is constant? ​ ​
​ ​ ​
The ratio of pressure to temperature is always 1.962 Pa/k.
​ ​ ​ ​
Gay-Lussac’s law states that, at constant volume, the ratio of pressure to temperature is constant.
As temperature increases, pressure increases as well.

4.​ Explain: Based on the motions of the gas molecules, why do you think the pressure changed as it did when
the temperature was increased? ​​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
As temperature increases, the molecules move faster because of the gain in kinetic energy, making
the number of particle collisions between the molecules and the walls in the container increases. This
makes the pressure on the walls increases

5.​ Calculate: Compare the pressure and temperature values in your data table.

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 A. How did doubling the temperature affect the pressure? doubling-temperature doubled
the pressure

B. How did tripling the temperature affect the pressure? pressure triples

C. How did quadrupling the temperature affect the pressure? pressure quadrupled
​ ​ ​ ​
​

1.​ Create a graph: Record the pressure for temperatures of 50 K, 150 K, 250 K, 350 K, and 450 K. On the
GRAPH tab, select P vs. T. Click the camera icon to take a snapshot. Paste the image into the box below,
and label the graph “Pressure vs. Temperature.”

📷 Pressure vs. Temperature

​
F.​ What is the shape of the graph? ​ a straight horizontal diagonal line
​

G.​ How does this graph illustrate This graph shows that as long as the volume stays the
Gay-Lussac’s law? same, when the temperature is increased, so does the
pressure.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

2.​ Apply: Based on what you learned, what do you think would happen if you placed a sealed container of gas
into a fire? ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​
The temperature will increase and because of Gay-Lussacs Law, so will the pressure. This will
happen until the container explodes or brakes.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
3.​ Challenge: Combine Boyle’s law, Charles’s law, and Gay-Lussac’s law into a single proportional
relationship between pressure (P), volume (V), and temperature (T). Use the symbol “∝” to represent “is
proportional to.”
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PV ∝ T

Explain your reasoning.

Charles law is as long as the pressure stays constant, if the volume goes up ,so does temperature.
Gay-Lussac’s law is as long as the volume stays constant, if the temperature goes up, so does
pressure. This means the product of pressure and volume is proportional to temperature. This can be
seen in Boyle’s Law that if the temperature is constant, when the pressure goes up, the volume will
go down.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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