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Charles

Definition

Charles's Law states that the volume of an ideal gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature, provided the pressure and number of particles remain constant. This relationship is mathematically expressed as $V \propto T$ or $\frac{V_1}{T_1} = \frac{V_2}{T_2}$.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Charles's Law is one of the gas laws that describes how gases tend to expand when heated.
  2. The law assumes that the pressure and the number of gas molecules are constant during the process.
  3. It can be experimentally observed by heating a gas in a flexible container like a balloon and noting its expansion.
  4. A graphical representation of Charles's Law results in a straight line when plotting volume against temperature in Kelvin.
  5. Real gases deviate from Charles's Law at high pressures and low temperatures due to intermolecular forces.

Review Questions

  • What does Charles's Law state about the relationship between temperature and volume of an ideal gas?
  • How can Charles's Law be mathematically expressed?
  • Why do real gases deviate from Charles's Law under certain conditions?

Related terms

Boyle's Law: Boyle's Law states that the pressure of a given mass of an ideal gas is inversely proportional to its volume at constant temperature.

Ideal Gas: An ideal gas is a hypothetical gas whose molecules occupy negligible space and have no interactions, obeying the ideal gas laws exactly.

Absolute Temperature: $\text{Absolute temperature}$ is measured in Kelvin (K) and starts from absolute zero, where all molecular motion theoretically stops.



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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.