Charles’s law
Definition
Charles's Law states that the volume of an ideal gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature at constant pressure. Mathematically, it is expressed as $V \propto T$ or $\frac{V_1}{T_1} = \frac{V_2}{T_2}$.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- Charles's Law applies only when the pressure of the gas remains constant.
- The relationship between volume and temperature is linear in Charles's Law.
- Absolute temperature must be used (Kelvin) for calculations involving Charles's Law.
- The law can be derived from the ideal gas law by holding pressure and mole number constant ($PV=nRT$).
- Graphically, a plot of volume versus temperature yields a straight line for an ideal gas under constant pressure.
Review Questions
- What condition must remain constant for Charles's Law to hold true?
- How does the volume of a gas change if its absolute temperature doubles, according to Charles's Law?
- Why must absolute temperature (Kelvin) be used when applying Charles's Law?
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Related terms
Ideal Gas: A theoretical gas composed of many randomly moving point particles that interact only through elastic collisions.
Boyle's Law: States that the pressure of an ideal gas is inversely proportional to its volume at constant temperature.
Gay-Lussac’s Law: States that the pressure of an ideal gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature at constant volume.
