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Gas pressure and temperature

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Gas particles move randomly and hit the walls of their container. That is what causes gas pressure.

Pressure from particles

Gas particles move quickly in random directions. When they collide with the walls, they exert a force. Force over an area is pressure.
More collisions per second, or harder collisions, means more pressure.

Temperature and absolute zero

Heating a gas makes its particles move faster, so at constant volume the pressure rises.
Absolute zero is −273 °C: the lowest possible temperature, when particles have the least possible kinetic energy.
Kelvin = °C + 273. The average kinetic energy of particles is proportional to the Kelvin temperature.

Volume and pressure (Separate Physics)

At constant temperature, squashing a gas into a smaller volume means more collisions with the walls each second, so the pressure goes up.
p1 × V1 = p2 × V2.
Doing work on a gas (e.g. pumping a tyre) can raise its temperature.
Worked example

Convert 27 °C to kelvin.

  1. K = °C + 273
  2. 27 + 273

Answer: 300 K

Key idea

Gas pressure comes from particles hitting the walls. Hotter means faster particles and higher pressure. Absolute zero is −273 °C (0 K). p1V1 = p2V2 at constant temperature.

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