Ideal Gas Law Question: Solving for Volume at Surface

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SUMMARY

The discussion revolves around solving an ideal gas law problem involving a scuba diver releasing an air bubble at a depth of 32 meters. The initial conditions include a pressure of 4.2 atm and a temperature of 5°C, while the final conditions at the surface are 1 atm and 25°C. The correct approach to find the final volume of the bubble involves applying the ideal gas law formula PV/T = PV/T, rearranging it to solve for the unknown volume, and substituting the appropriate values. The final volume calculation confirms that the initial method was on the right track but required precise application of the formula.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Ideal Gas Law (PV=nRT)
  • Knowledge of pressure conversion in fluids (1 atm = 10m of water)
  • Basic thermodynamics concepts (temperature in Kelvin)
  • Ability to manipulate algebraic equations
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  • Study the Ideal Gas Law and its applications in various scenarios
  • Learn about pressure changes in fluids and their impact on gas behavior
  • Explore temperature conversions and their significance in gas calculations
  • Practice solving similar problems involving gas laws and buoyancy
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, scuba diving enthusiasts, and anyone interested in understanding gas behavior under varying pressure and temperature conditions.

Borat321
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Here's an ideal gas law question:

A scuba diver is 32 m below the surface of a lake, where the temperature is 5°C. He releases an air bubble with a volume of 12 cm^3. The bubble rises to the surface, where the temperature is 25°C. What is the volume of the bubble right before it breaks the surface? (Hint: Remember that the pressure also changes.)

I thought it would be the following:

Initial:
Pressure @ 32m = 4.2atm, since 10m=1atm under water
12cm^3=.012 litres
5C= 278K

Final:
Pressure @ 0m = 1atm
V= unknown
25C= 298K

Then, use PV/T=PV/T... but apparently it's wrong - does anyone know why?
 
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seems right, what's the correct answer?
 
Should be fine, all you have to do is rearrange the final equation you wrote for the second volume and plug the numbers in.
 

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