Preview - Kinetic Molecular Theory

How Does Volume Affect Pressure?

Now we will examine how volume affects pressure. Again, we need to make sure that the other two variables (number of particles and temperature) are held constant. 

This is the set-up you will need to complete the data table below: 

  1. Click "Ideal".
  2. Click the green plus sign next to particles.
  3. Click the double rightward facing triangle below "Heavy" to add 50 heavy particles at once.
  4. Under "Hold Constant", click "Temperature (T)".
  5. In order to adjust the container's volume, click "Width" and you will see a ruler appear under the container. Reduce the width to 5.0 nm, then record the highest pressure observed.
  6. Press the reset button, then repeat steps #2-5 two more times.
  7. Complete steps #2-6 for widths (volumes) of 10.0 nm and 15.0 nm.

Questions

Please answer the questions below.

To complete the following data table, you will first set up the simulation as described above. Run the simulation with 50 heavy particles at each width listed in the table. For each container width (volume), record what the highest pressure observed. After you have collected data for all nine trials, calculate average pressures for 5.0 nm, 10.0 nm, and 15.0 nm widths (volumes).

Is the relationship between volume and pressure direct or inverse? Justify your answer by citing evidence from your data table in question 4.1 above.

Notes

These notes will appear on every page in this lesson so feel free to put anything here you'd like to keep track of.