Boyle's law and constant temperature

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around Boyle's law, which describes the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at constant temperature. Participants explore the implications of maintaining constant temperature while increasing pressure and the practical considerations of conducting experiments related to this law.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how pressure can be increased without raising temperature, noting that doing work on the gas typically increases its temperature.
  • Another participant suggests that the experiment must be conducted slowly to maintain temperature equilibrium with the surroundings.
  • A third participant agrees with the initial question and explains that to keep the temperature constant while doing work on the gas, heat must be allowed to escape, suggesting the use of a heat bath.
  • A fourth participant mentions the general gas law and reiterates the relationship between pressure and volume, although the statement appears to conflict with the earlier points regarding the effects of pressure on volume.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on how to maintain constant temperature while increasing pressure, with some suggesting practical methods and others questioning the feasibility of such conditions. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact mechanisms and conditions necessary to uphold Boyle's law in practice.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about temperature control and the conditions under which Boyle's law applies. The discussion does not resolve the mathematical or physical implications of the claims made.

Entanglement
Messages
438
Reaction score
13
Boyle's law states that the product of the pressure and the volume of a gas is
Constant at a constant temperature, that means if pressure increase two times the volume decrease to half it's value "as long as the temperature is constant". How is the pressure increased and the temperature is kept constant, since increasing pressure involves doing work on the gas, shouldn't the temperature increase?
 
Science news on Phys.org
I think in reality this experiment can only be done very slowly so that the gas roughly remains in temperature equilibrium with its surroundings.
 
ElmorshedyDr said:
Boyle's law states that the product of the pressure and the volume of a gas is
Constant at a constant temperature, that means if pressure increase two times the volume decrease to half it's value "as long as the temperature is constant". How is the pressure increased and the temperature is kept constant, since increasing pressure involves doing work on the gas, shouldn't the temperature increase?

Yes, you right. You're doing work on the gas so you must allow an equal amount of heat to come out so the temperature may remain constant. That's why that experiment is done in a heat bath of constant temperature. A mixture of ice and water works well.
 
PV/T general gas law, PV Boyles law.
P-pressure
V-volume
T-temp

If you increase your pressure you increase your volume of gas
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K