Thermal Physics

Temperature
 Characteristics of Gases
• Gases expand to fill any container.
– random motion, no attraction
• Gases are fluids (like liquids).
– no attraction
• Gases have very low densities.
– no volume = lots of empty space
 Characteristics of Gases
• Gases can be compressed.
– no volume = lots of empty space
• Gases undergo diffusion
– random motion
 Characteristics of Gases
• All the particles (atoms and molecules) of a
substance are continually moving and so
possess kinetic energy.
• Gas particles have enough energy to
overcome the attractive forces holding the
particles together.
 Characteristics of Gases
• Gas particles are moving very quickly and
freely in a random manner constantly
bumping into each other and their
surroundings.
• The collision between the particles of the gas
and the walls of the container creates gas
pressure.
The Gas Laws
BOYLES
CHARLES
PRESSURE
(GAY-LUSSAC)
 Physical Characteristics of Gases

Physical Typical Units SI unit

Characteristics
Volume, V liters (L)/ cm3 Cubic
meter (m3)
Pressure, P atmosphere Pascal
(1 atm = 1.015 x105 Nm-2) (Pa)
Temperature, Degree Celsius (℃) Kelvin (K)
T
 Gas Laws
• The gas laws shows the relationship
between volume, pressure and
temperature of a gas.

• The volume of a gas is the volume it

occupies in 3D includes containers.
• Temperature is the measure of the
average kinetic energy of molecules
in the gas.

• The gas pressure is the overall force

of the collisions divided by the area
of the walls of the container.
 Boyle’s Law
 Pressure and
volume are inversely
related at constant
temperature.

 PV = K

“Father of Modern Chemistry”  As one goes up,

Robert Boyle the other goes down.
Chemist & Natural Philosopher
Listmore, Ireland
January 25, 1627 – December 30, 1690  P1V1 = P2V2
Boyle’s Law: P1V1 = P2V2
Boyle’s Law: P1V1 = P2V2
Charles’ Law
 Volume of a gas
varies directly with
the absolute
temperature at
constant pressure.
Jacques-Alexandre Charles
 V = KT Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor
Beaugency, France
November 12, 1746 – April 7, 1823

 V1 / T1 = V2 / T2
Charles’ Law: V1/T1 = V2/T2
Charles’ Law: V1/T1 = V2/T2
Gay-Lussac’s Law
Pressure of a gas
varies directly with
the absolute
temperature at
constant volume.
 P = KT
Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac
 P1 / T1 = P2 / T2 Chemist, Physicist, Inventor
Saint Leonard-de-Noblat, France
December 6, 1778 – May 9, 1850
For a fixed mass of gas
Pressure Law - Graph
 The Combined Gas Law

Basically the Boyle’s, P1V1 T1  P1V1  kT1

P1V1
Charles’ and k
T1
Pressure Law are
P2V2
combined. k
T2
P1V1 P2V2

T1 T2
 Example- Question
Pure helium gas is admitted into a leak proof
cylinder containing a movable piston. The initial
volume, pressure, and temperature of the gas are
15 cm³, 2.0 Pa, and 300 K. If the volume is
decreased to 12 cm³and the pressure increased to
3.5 Pa, find the final temperature of the gas.
 Example - Solution
P1V1 P2V2

T1 T2
T1P2V2
T2 
P1V1
(12)( 3.5)( 300)
T2   420 K
(15)( 2)
 Home work
• Read about thermometers:
Heinemann, physics for CSEC pages 134-136
Avison, physics for CXC pages 170-171.

• In your groups, make a poster about the

given thermometer. (You will have to give a 5
minute presentation about your poster)
• relate the use of a thermometer to its design
• explain thermometer use to their design
• define the fixed points on the Celsius scale
 Bibliography
• http://web.mst.edu/~tbone/Subjects/TBone/gaslaws
.ppt
• bowlesphysics.com/images/AP_Physics_B_-
_Gas_Laws.ppt
• www.powayusd.com/teachers/jmori/.../Gas%20Laws
1.ppt
• www.humbleisd.net/cms/lib2/TX01001414/Centricit
y/.../gaslaws.ppt