At fixed amount and constant temperature, what happens to pressure if the volume decreases?

Study for the Cambridge Science – States of Matter Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each question. Ready yourself for your exam!

Multiple Choice

At fixed amount and constant temperature, what happens to pressure if the volume decreases?

Explanation:
At fixed amount of gas and constant temperature, pressure varies inversely with volume. When the container's volume is reduced, gas molecules have less space and collide with the walls more often, raising the pressure. The relation PV = nRT with n and T constant gives P = nRT / V, so shrinking V makes P larger. Therefore, pressure increases as volume decreases.

At fixed amount of gas and constant temperature, pressure varies inversely with volume. When the container's volume is reduced, gas molecules have less space and collide with the walls more often, raising the pressure. The relation PV = nRT with n and T constant gives P = nRT / V, so shrinking V makes P larger. Therefore, pressure increases as volume decreases.

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