Volume Effect on Gas Temperature: Investigating the Relationship

How does volume affect the temperature of a gas?

The ideal gas law states that the temperature of a gas is directly proportional to its volume. Specifically, the temperature of a gas will increase if its volume is decreased while its volume and pressure remain unchanged. If the volume of a gas is increased, its temperature will fall but its volume and pressure will remain unchanged.

Which experiment would BEST investigate the effect temperature has on the volume of a gas?

A. Inflate one balloon to a large volume and another balloon to a small volume. Measure the temperature of the air released from both balloons.

B. Stretch a balloon over the top of a beaker filled with baking soda and vinegar, then observe how the balloon changes volume as the reaction occurs.

C. Measure the volume of a balloon filled with room temperature air; place the balloon in a freezer for an hour and measure its volume again.

D. Measure the pressure of the air in a bicycle tire on a cold day.

Answer: C. Measure the volume of a balloon filled with room temperature air; place the balloon in a freezer for an hour and measure its volume again.

Explanation:

The relationship between the volume and temperature of a gas can be explained by the behavior of gas molecules. When a gas is compressed (its volume decreases), the molecules are confined to a smaller area and move more energetically, colliding with each other and the walls of the container. As a result, there is an increase in kinetic energy and temperature.

On the other hand, when the volume of a gas is increased, the molecules have more space to move around and interact with each other. This leads to a decrease in temperature as the kinetic energy decreases.

Therefore, measuring the volume of a balloon filled with room temperature air and then placing it in a freezer to observe the change in volume after an hour would be the best experiment to investigate the effect temperature has on the volume of a gas. This experiment allows for the direct observation of how temperature change affects the volume of a gas.