Boyle's law and pressure problem

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SUMMARY

Boyle's Law states that for a given mass of gas at constant temperature, the product of pressure and volume (P1V1 = P2V2) remains constant. When 10 cm³ of oxygen is compressed into a 5 cm³ container, the pressure indeed doubles, as the number of gas molecules remains unchanged while the volume decreases. The discussion clarifies that the surface area of the container does not affect the pressure; rather, the total force exerted on the walls depends on the area. Thus, regardless of the container's shape, the pressure remains consistent as long as the volume and temperature conditions are met.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Boyle's Law and its mathematical representation
  • Basic knowledge of gas behavior under varying pressure and volume
  • Familiarity with kinetic molecular theory
  • Concept of pressure as force per unit area
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the implications of Boyle's Law in real-world applications, such as in scuba diving
  • Study the relationship between pressure, volume, and temperature in the Ideal Gas Law
  • Investigate the effects of temperature changes on gas pressure and volume
  • Learn about the kinetic molecular theory and its relation to gas pressure
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding gas laws and their applications in various scientific fields.

zeithief
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According to boyle's law, P1V1=P2V2 (without temp. change) right?
Therefore when 10cm^3 of oxygen is compresssed into a 5 cm^3 container , the pressure would double right? I believe that the pressure the molecules exerts on the container is due to the force that the molecules exert when they collide with the walls of the container. Therefore, if we compress 10cm^3 of oxygen into another 5cm^3 container of different inner area, will the pressure be different? If it's different will it violate boyle's law? Or there's a missing concept?
Confused boy
 
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You are correct that if you compress a gas to half the volume, you double the pressure. It is NOT true that the surface area of the container affects the pressure. If you have the same amount of gas in the same. What happens is that the total force on the container sides depends on the area. For example, A cube 10 cm by 10 cm by 10 cm has volume 1000 cm3 and surface area 600 cm2 (6 sides each with area 10x10= 100 cm2). A rectangular solid 500 cm by 1 cm by 2 cm also has volume 1000 cmcm3 but now has 2 sides of area 500x1= 500 cm2, two sides of area 500x2= 1000cm2, and two sides of area 1x2= 2cm2 for a total surface area of 3002 cmcm3. Exactly the same amount of gas (same number of molecules) at the same temperature would have the same pressure in both but the latter, with larger surface area would have more total force on the walls.
 
thank you, it is a good explanation!
:)
 
According to boyle's law, P1V1=P2V2 (without temp. change) right?
Therefore when 10cm^3 of oxygen is compresssed into a 5 cm^3 container , the pressure would double right? I believe that the pressure the molecules exerts on the container is due to the force that the molecules exert when they collide with the walls of the container. Therefore, if we compress 10cm^3 of oxygen into another 5cm^3 container of different inner area, will the pressure be different? If it's different will it violate boyle's law? Or there's a missing concept?
Confused boy

Yes, when the volume is halved , the pressure doubles under condition that the temperature remains constant.Theoretically, when the volume reduces, the number of molecules remains the same and now they are confined to a much smaller volume ,because the temperature is kept the same , the KE of molecules remains the same but due to smaller volume , the collision with the walls is more rapid and dynamic resulting in increase in pressure.
 

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