Question

A container with a volume of `7 L` contains a gas with a temperature of `420^o K`. If the temperature of the gas changes to `360 ^o K` without any change in pressure, what must the container's new volume be?

Answer 1

`6 L`

Explanation:

Given: constant pressure, volume of a gas = `7 L; " "T = 420 K`. Temperature changes to `360 K`, what is the new volume?

The general gas law: `(P_1V_1)/T_1 = (P_2V_2)/T_2` where Temperature is required to be in the units of Kelvin.

When the pressure is constant, we can use Charles' Law:

`V_1/T_1 = V_2/T_2`

Solve for `" "V_2: " "(7)/420 = V_2/360`

Use the cross-product to solve `a/b = c/d; " "a*d = b*c`

`420V_2 = 7*360 = 2520`

`(420V_2)/420 = 2520/420 = 6`

`V_2 = 6 L`