Student Exploration: Boyle’s Law and Charles’ Law
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?
Because the helium that it takes to fill up the balloon don’t take up a ton of space
so there is a lot of helium in the tank to fill them up.
Gizmo Warm-up
The Boyle’s Law and Charles’ Law Gizmo™ shows a
container of gas. In the container, the small purple
spheres represent molecules.
1. Observe the particles. Are they all moving
at the same speed?
Yes
2. How do the particles interact with the walls and lid of the container?
They bounce off.
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).
3. 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?
The higher the temperature the faster the molecules move and vice versa.
B. How does the change in temperature affect the volume of the container?
The higher the temperature the greater volume as well.
P a g e 1 of 7
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, Student Exploration: Boyle’s Law and Charles’
Law
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?
I think that the pressure will increase and the molecules will move faster.
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 on Total mass (lid + Pressure* Volume
the lid added mass)
0 kg 10 kg 98.1 N/m² 2.39 m³
10 kg 20 kg 196.2 N/m² 1.19 m³
20 kg 30 kg 294.3 N/m² .8 m³
30 kg 40 kg 392.4 N/m² .6 m³
*This model does not include atmospheric pressure, which is 101,325 N/m2.
Analyze: As the pressure increases at constant temperature, what happens to the
volume of the gas?
It decreases
This relationship is called Boyle’s law.
5. Calculate: Compare the pressure and volume values in your data table.
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?
P a g e 2 of 7
This study source was downloaded by 100000847097152 from CourseHero.c om o n 03 -13 - 20 24 14:25:29
https://www.coursehero.com/file/71869003/Copy-of-HON-Student-Exploration-Boyles-Law-and-Charles-Law/
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?
Because the helium that it takes to fill up the balloon don’t take up a ton of space
so there is a lot of helium in the tank to fill them up.
Gizmo Warm-up
The Boyle’s Law and Charles’ Law Gizmo™ shows a
container of gas. In the container, the small purple
spheres represent molecules.
1. Observe the particles. Are they all moving
at the same speed?
Yes
2. How do the particles interact with the walls and lid of the container?
They bounce off.
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).
3. 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?
The higher the temperature the faster the molecules move and vice versa.
B. How does the change in temperature affect the volume of the container?
The higher the temperature the greater volume as well.
P a g e 1 of 7
This study source was downloaded by 100000847097152 from CourseHero.c om o n 03 -13 - 20 24 14:25:29
https://www.coursehero.com/file/71869003/Copy-of-HON-Student-Exploration-Boyles-Law-and-Charles-Law/
, Student Exploration: Boyle’s Law and Charles’
Law
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?
I think that the pressure will increase and the molecules will move faster.
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 on Total mass (lid + Pressure* Volume
the lid added mass)
0 kg 10 kg 98.1 N/m² 2.39 m³
10 kg 20 kg 196.2 N/m² 1.19 m³
20 kg 30 kg 294.3 N/m² .8 m³
30 kg 40 kg 392.4 N/m² .6 m³
*This model does not include atmospheric pressure, which is 101,325 N/m2.
Analyze: As the pressure increases at constant temperature, what happens to the
volume of the gas?
It decreases
This relationship is called Boyle’s law.
5. Calculate: Compare the pressure and volume values in your data table.
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?
P a g e 2 of 7
This study source was downloaded by 100000847097152 from CourseHero.c om o n 03 -13 - 20 24 14:25:29
https://www.coursehero.com/file/71869003/Copy-of-HON-Student-Exploration-Boyles-Law-and-Charles-Law/
