Charles' law and absolute zero

In summary, according to Charles' law, as temperature decreases towards absolute zero, the volume of a gas also decreases. However, this does not mean that the gas will occupy zero volume, as there are still quantum effects that prevent this from happening. In the case of an ideal gas, the volume is entirely due to the motion of the particles and not their size. This is why at absolute zero, when there is no motion, the volume of an ideal gas is zero. However, in reality, no gas is truly ideal and the ideal gas law is just an approximation. So, while the size of gas atoms may become negligible at absolute zero, the volume of the gas will never truly be zero. Additionally, it's important to note
  • #1
joeyjo100
23
1
According to Charles' law, volume decreases with temperature. Extrapolating down towards absolute zero, and the volume of the gas will be zero.

How can this be possible? Surely any amount of gas will still have to take up some volume in space. Can multiple gas molecules really occupy zero volume?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
In practice no, probably not, although I'm not sure what weird quantum effects set in.

But when you have an 'ideal gas', you model the individual particles making up the gas as being point particles of zero volume which collide with each other. The overall volume of an ideal gas is therefore entirely due to the motion of the particles preventing them from all being squashed down to a single point, it doesn't depend on the size of the particles at all, and that is why at absolute zero, with no motion of the particles, the volume of an ideal gas is zero.

In practice no gas is 'ideal', so you're query is probably completely right, but the ideal gas law is still a very good approximation for the behavior of most gases when they are far from their vaporisation point. The size of each gas atom is negligible compared with space between adjacent atoms, so the volume of a gas at absolute zero (when the gap between atoms is zero) is also negligible.
 
  • #3
There are no gases at absolute zero. Charles' law does not apply when the gas has liquified or solidified.
 

1. What is Charles' law?

Charles' law is a gas law that states that, at constant pressure, the volume of an ideal gas is directly proportional to its temperature in Kelvin.

2. Who is Charles and what did he discover?

Jacques Charles was a French physicist who discovered Charles' law in the late 1700s. He found that when the pressure on a gas is held constant, the volume of the gas increases as its temperature increases.

3. What is absolute zero?

Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature, at which all molecular motion stops. It is typically measured at 0 Kelvin or -273.15 degrees Celsius.

4. How is absolute zero related to Charles' law?

Charles' law states that as the temperature of a gas decreases, its volume also decreases. At absolute zero, the volume of a gas would theoretically be zero, as there is no molecular motion or energy to cause expansion.

5. Why is Charles' law important?

Charles' law is important because it helps us understand the relationship between temperature and volume of gases. It also has practical applications, such as in the design of refrigerators and air conditioners, which use the cooling effect of expanding gases to lower temperatures.

Similar threads

Replies
7
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
918
Replies
7
Views
852
  • Classical Physics
Replies
2
Views
803
Replies
14
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
610
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
18
Views
1K
Replies
11
Views
973
  • Engineering and Comp Sci Homework Help
Replies
14
Views
1K
Back
Top