Experiment: To Verify Boyles Law

Materials used: A Boyles Law Apparatus, Air Pump, Hand Vacuum

Pump.

Method:
1) Set up apparatus as shown in the diagram.
2) Connect air pump to the in let of the oil reservoir.
3) Open air tap and pump in air until pressure
gauge reads its max value.
4) Quickly close tap.
5) Leave for a minute or two, after changing the
pressure of the trapped air wait a minute or two
before reading the pressure or volume, to allow
the air to reach room temperature. This is
necessary because when the air is compressed
or expanded there may be slight changes in
temperature.
6) Then measure the gas pressure by reading it off
the Bourdon gauge. Record these volumes.
7) Read the volume of gas off the scale next to the
glass tube.
8) Gently open then quickly close tap to release
some air.
9) Leave for a minute or two, then measure the gas
pressure by reading it off the Bourdon gauge.
10) Record these values.
11) Repeat steps 7-9 at least six times until the
pressure of the gas is
back to atmospheric pressure
12) Plot a graph of pressure (p) against the
inverse of volume (1/V)

Results:
The graph is a straight line through the origin, verifying that the pressure
(p) is proportional to (1/V), verifying Boyles Law. Also all values of pV
are the same.

P 1/V therefore p=k(1/V) therefore pV=k

 Results:
Pressure Volume 1
p/ atms V/cm3 Volume /cm-3
120 9.0 0.11
180 6.0 0.17
220 5.0 0.20
280 4.0 0.25
320 3.5 0.29
380 3.0 0.33
440 2.5 0.40
(Based on 2003 figures given)

pV=k
To graph p against 1/V
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

Boyles Law States. That at constant temperature the volume of a

fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to its pressure.
P 1/V

This proves Boyles law as it is a straight line graph through the origin. That
graph is P 1/V
Precautions:
1) After changing the pressure of the trapped air wait a minute or two
before reading the pressure or volume, to allow the air to reach room
temperature. This is necessary because when the air is compressed or
expanded there may be slight changes in temperature which will affect
t the volume of gas )due to expansion or contraction)
2) When reading volume make sure your eye is level with the Mercury
Meniscus.
3) Make sure air is connected tightly to oil reservoir in let.
4) If a hand suction pump is available you will be able to reduce the
pressure of the gas below atmospheric pressure. You can then take a
future series of values of p and V include them in the table and graph.

Problems:
Q1. The volume of a certain mass of gas is 600cm3 at a pressure of
1 x 105 Pa. Find its volume if the pressure changes to 3.2 x 105 Pa,
the temperature remaining constant.

pV = constant therefore p1V1 = p2V2 where V2 is the required

volume. Thus (1 x 105)(600) = (3.2 x 105) (V2) therefore
V2 = 187.5 cm3.

Q2. The height of mercury in a mercury barometer was 75cm on a

certain day. Given that the density of mercury is 1.36 x 104 kgm-3
and g=9.8ms-2 what was the atmospheric pressure on that day?

P = gh = (1.36 x 104)(9.8)(0.75) = 99960 Pa.

Q3. If a gas under the same atmospheric pressure as above had a

volume of 15cm3, what volume would it have if the pressure on it
increased to 1.2x 105 Pa and the temperature remained the same?

From Boyles Law,

p1V1 = p2V2 therefore V2 = p1V1
P2

Therefore: V2 = 99960 x 15 = 12.5 cm3

1.2 x 105