The volume of a fixed quantity of gas is halved while the temperature is kept constant. What happens to its pressure?
AIt halves in size
BIt stays unchanged
CIt falls to zero
DIt doubles in size
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. It doubles in size
1. Boyle's law applies because the amount of gas and the temperature are both fixed.
2. Pressure is inversely proportional to the volume the gas occupies.
3. Halving the volume therefore doubles the pressure.
4. The particles now hit the walls twice as often in the smaller space, which is the same result seen from the particle picture.
_Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 11 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 7: Ideal gases_
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