Question

The volume of a gas is reduced from 4 L to 0.5 L while the temperature is held constant. How does the gas pressure change?

Answer 1

It increases by a factor of `8`.

Explanation:

We can use the pressure-volume relationship of gases, illustrated by Boyle's law:

`P_1V_1 = P_2V_2`

We're not given any pressure values, but we can solve this in terms of `P_1`, the original pressure (to calculate for the final pressure, `P_2`). Plugging in the known values, and solving for `P_2`, we have

`P_2 = (P_1V_1)/(V_2) = (P_1(4cancel("L")))/(0.5cancel("L"))`

So,

`P_2 = 8(P_1)`

Therefore, the value of the final pressure is `8` times that of the original pressure; i.e. the pressure increases by a factor of `8`.