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During an experiment to verify Boyle's law, the pressure of a fixed mass of gas was varied - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 2 - 2011
Question 2
During an experiment to verify Boyle's law, the pressure of a fixed mass of gas was varied. A series of measurements of the pressure p and the corresponding volume V... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:During an experiment to verify Boyle's law, the pressure of a fixed mass of gas was varied - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 2 - 2011
Step 1
Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus used in the experiment.
Answer
A labeled diagram for this experiment typically includes:
- A gas container with a secure lid to hold the gas.
- A Bourdon gauge or pressure gauge connected to measure pressure.
- A syringe or reservoir to hold and manipulate the gas volume.
- A valve to release or adjust the gas pressure.
- A scale for reading the volume appropriately. These components are essential to accurately control and measure the pressure and volume of the gas in the experiment.
Step 2
How was the pressure of the gas varied during the experiment?
Answer
The pressure of the gas was varied by using a pump to increase pressure and a valve to control the gas flow. Adjustments can be made by either rotating a wheel or screw to move a piston or plunger, allowing gas to be compressed or expanded. This enables calibration of gas pressure while ensuring precision.
Step 3
Describe how the pressure and the volume of the gas were measured.
Answer
Pressure was measured using the Bourdon gauge, which provides a direct reading of the pressure in kilopascals (kPa). The volume of the gas was measured using the scale on the syringe or reservoir, where the volume in cubic centimeters (cm³) can be read directly.
Step 4
Why should there be a delay between adjusting the pressure of the gas and recording its value?
Answer
There should be a delay to allow the gas to cool or reach thermal equilibrium. When pressure is adjusted suddenly, the gas may not immediately reflect stable readings due to temperature changes, leading to inaccurate measurements. Allowing time for the gas to stabilize ensures reliability in recorded values.
Step 5
Draw a suitable graph to show the relationship between the pressure and the volume of a fixed mass of gas. Explain how your graph verifies Boyle's law.
Answer
To demonstrate Boyle's law graphically, plot the pressure (y-axis) against the volume (x-axis) of the gas. Based on the data:
- Plot six points from the given data.
- Label axes correctly with 'Pressure (kPa)' and 'Volume (cm³)'.
- Ensure a straight line is drawn through the origin.
The resultant graph should show an inverse relationship, depicting a downward curve, which verifies Boyle's law: as pressure increases, volume decreases, maintaining the constant temperature condition. This relationship can be mathematically expressed as , where k is a constant.