Gas Laws

This simulation shows pressure as the result of particles hitting the container walls. Students change the temperature from 100 to 800 K, the volume by moving the piston and the number of particles. The measured pressure is worked out from the actual impacts and compared with the ideal gas prediction nRT/V. Readouts also show volume and temperature. It is a strong visual for Boyle's law, Charles's law and the particle explanation of pressure, and for discussing why squeezing a gas can warm it.

• Lower Volume from 5 to 2 units and watch Measured P rise toward nRT / V.
• Raise Temperature to 800 K and see the particles move faster and the pressure increase.
• Add particles with the Amount slider and compare pressure before and after.
• Check that Measured P and nRT / V stay close together as you change each control.
• Use the Front and Angle camera views to watch particles hit the piston lid.

1. 1Explain gas pressure in terms of particle collisions with the walls.
2. 2Describe how pressure changes with volume, temperature and amount of gas.
3. 3Use P V = n R T to predict pressure for given conditions.
4. 4Compare a measured value with a model prediction.

Questions teachers ask