Unit 5 Section 2 The Three Gas Laws

In thermal physics temperature is measured using the absolute temperature scale. The units of this scale is the kelvin (K).

There is the lowest possible temperature that any object can have called 'absolute zero' at -273(.15) degrees Celsius.

Absolute zero is given a value of zero kelvins (0 K) on the absolute temperature scale.

K = C + 273(.15)

Boyle's law: At a constant temperature and a fixed mass the pressure p and volume V of a gas are inversely proportional.

p x V = constant

The higher the temperature of the gas, the further the curve is from the origin.

Charles' law: At a constant pressure and a fixed mass, the volume V of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature T.

V / T = constant

In practice a real (non-ideal) gas would condense before reaching 0 K.

The pressure law: At a constant volume and a fixed mass, the pressure p of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature T.

P / T = constant

The lines always reach the temperature axis at absolute zero.