What we did in this unit was to re-develop three main gas theories using computational models and quantitative data analysis.
We defined the relationship between number of particles and pressure as:
- Qualitatively: As number of particles increases, pressure increases linearly (given that temperature and container volume are constant)
- Quantitatively: \((P)ressure = m_1 \times (N)umber \) , where \(m_1\) is a constant coefficient.
We defined the relationship between gas temperature and pressure as:
- Qualitatively: As gas temperature increases, pressure increases linearly (given that number of particles and container volume are constant)
- Quantitatively: \(P= m_2 \times (T)emperature \) , where \(m_2\) is a constant coefficient.
And, we defined the relationship between container volume and pressure as:
- Qualitatively: As gas temperature increases, pressure increases linearly (given that number of particles and container volume are constant)
- Quantitatively: \({P} = {m_3 \over (V)olume}\) , where \(m_3\) is a constant coefficient.
Our methodology and findings were analogous to three scientific discoveries made between 17th and 19th centuries:
However, as both the warning on the air duster can and the ballon-on-fire experiment showed, often times, we may not be able to explain gas-pressure related phenomena through just one variable. We need be combine our three theories and come up with one ideal gas theory. Let's try to do that!
